Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a severe allergic reaction to a number of medications ranging from Tylenol to Zithromax, a commonly prescribed antibiotic, to a number of anti-seizure medications often prescribed to young epileptic patients.

While it’s still considered rare by many physicians, the number of people joining an SJS class action lawsuit suggests that perhaps it’s not as rare as people think.The SJS victims claim that the medications which allegedly caused SJS didn’t adequately warn about the risks, including what to watch for.

Sometimes the victims are young, like Jarquez Pryor who is now a junior at Bay High in Florida. He got SJS when he was prescribed a medication as a young child. This left him totally blind in one eye, and he’s quickly becoming fully blind in the other. His classmates and community are rallying around him and holding fundraisers in an effort to help him regain vision.

Unfortunately, Pryor’s experience isn’t that unique for SJS survivors. It starts as a rash but quickly turns into blisters. These blisters tend to collect in moist regions of the body like the eyes, mouth, nose and groin. These are, of course, very sensitive areas.

A number of people who survived SJS report vision trouble sand blindness like Pryor. The scarring which can result from this reaction can be severe. Often, people look like burn victims and are usually treated in burn units of hospitals.

Pryor is being treated at the Eye Center of North Florida, where specialists have located a procedure that only happens in Colorado, where he will have to travel for the procedure.

They think it can help improve Pryor’s vision drastically, but it comes at a high price. The fundraising organizers have a goal of raising $10,000 which will take care of a big chunk of the medical costs.

As for Pryor, he’s excited about the prospect of a surgery which might save his vision.

“It’s very exciting and to have everyone come out and support me, I’m really enjoying this, I’m really enjoying this you know what I mean,” Pryor said.

The director of the school’s athletic department, Vern Barth, has high hopes for Pryor.

“It’s been rewarding to watch the kids come together, the faculty come together, watch so many people jump on board. Just show what red pride is al about, school spirit and just being able to help a young man that deserves an opportunity and a second chance,” Barth added.

If all goes according to plan, Pryor will head to Colorado in April for his first appointment.

Since SJS is still somewhat rare and in the early stages looks like a simple rash, doctors often misdiagnose it. This also means that patients often continue taking their antibiotics, anti-seizure medication, or over-the-counter (OTC) medications without knowing that the drug they are taking is the cause of the problem.

The fundraisers will continue collecting donations for Pryor’s surgery. Anyone can send or drop off their contribution at Bay High School’s front desk.

The statute of limitations for Pryor to join the SJS multi-district litigation (MDL) or file a class action lawsuit may have likely run out, but he hopes that the media attention will help educate the public about what’s still a very real danger.

According to some SJS lawsuits, children as young as two have died from SJS complications.

Never See It Coming

SJS can present as a rash for a few days, and physicians often liken it to poison oak. However, once the blisters start to form, the reaction can quickly spread. The skin begins to peel off like an onion, and once it spreads to more than 30 percent of the body, SJS turns into skin death, also known as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, which can affect up to 100 percent of the body.

It’s paramount that the body be kept clean and sterile in the hopes that the body can heal itself. This calls for regular cleanings in the hospital, which is exceptionally painful. Victims often lose a large amount of weight and become vulnerable to a wide range of infections. When death occurs, it’s usually an infection that is the cause.