In July of last year, a new mother developed Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), an allergic skin reaction allegedly linked to her use of an antibiotic. While news reports of this mother’s SJS case did not specify which antibiotic she used that set off her SJS reaction, it is possible that it may have been Zithromax, as it is one of the most popularly requested and prescribed antibiotics and it is known to have a high incident rate of SJS.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and a related condition known as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) are painful and sometimes fatal skin reactions that develop as allergies to a number of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Some antibiotics like Zithromax have higher rates of SJS or TENS than others. Additionally, certain drug manufacturers like Pfizer Inc., the manufacturer of Zithromax, have allegedly neglected to make these risks of SJS and TEN known to their consumers.

In the case of new mother, Cassandra C., she was unaware of the SJS side effects associated with antibiotics like Zithromax when she contacted the allergic skin condition last year. Cassandra, who had given birth within a week of the antibiotic SJS incident, was bitten by a bug and was encourage to go see a doctor as a precaution. At the hospital, her attending physician prescribed an antibiotic for the bug bite just in case her immune system was comprised so soon after giving birth.

However, a few days starting her course of antibiotics, Cassandra found herself in the hospital again because of SJS symptoms. Because of the skin condition, she could not open her eyes and she developed blisters all over her body. She was diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome, but even after this diagnoses, her SJS symptoms continued to worsen to the point that her skin began to fall off in sheets. Cassandra died just three weeks after giving birth to her child, allegedly from her SJS reaction.

While SJS is a rare skin condition, its effects can be painful and deadly for those few individuals who do contract this allergic skin reaction. As previously stated, it is not known what antibiotic Cassandra was given that set off her SJS reaction, but studies have suggested that of the antibiotics currently on the U.S. drug market, Zithromax has an unusually high correlation with SJS cases.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

When a patient develops Zithromax SJS or TEN after taking a medication, the topmost layer of skin cells dies, leaving the deeper, more sensitive skin layers and mucous membrane exposed and prone to infection. Due the subsequent pain experienced by SJS victims, they need to be hospitalized for weeks to months at a time for constant monitoring and treatment.  Some SJS patients, like Cassandra C., may even die from the trauma sustained by their body from this skin reaction.

Some SJS side effects may include:

• Painful blistering of the skin and mucous membranes
• Flu like symptoms and high fever
• Sloughing off of the skin
• Severe conjunctivis, iritis, palpebral edema, conjunctival and corneal blisters and erosions, and corneal perforation.

While Zithromax is an effective antibiotic drug in combating bacterial infections like pneumonia, bronchitis, it has recently come under fire because of reports of Zithromax SJS. Because of the pain, suffering, and even loss of life a number of Zithromax consumers have faced, many are filing Zithromax SJS lawsuits or joining Zithromax class action lawsuits to seek compensation from the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer.