Each year hundreds of Americans are diagnosed with a rare but serious allergic skin rash known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS).

This skin condition is considered a dermatological emergency as it is fatal 15 percent of the time.

SJS occurs as a reaction to over-the-counter and prescription medications. Treatment is a lengthy process that requires hospitalization for weeks or even months. SJS patients are often treated in a hospital’s burn unit while physicians determine which medication is causing the severe skin condition.

What Causes SJS?

Medications are typically the cause of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. Patients who develop SJS will need to bring (or report) all the medications they have taken within three-weeks of developing the skin rash.

Commonly reported SJS allergic reactions have occurred with the following prescription and over-the-counter medications:

• Advil
• Ibuprofen
• Motrin
• Tylenol
• Dilantin
• Onfi
• Zithromax
• Lamictal
• Cipro (Ciprofloxacin)
• Levaquin (levofloxacin)
• Avelox (moxifloxacin)

Often times, the risk of developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome is omitted from drug warning labels which leads to SJS lawsuits.

SJS Symptoms

Stevens Johnson Syndrome initially begins with flu-like symptoms as patients report body aches, chills, sore throat and even a fever. After that, a rapidly spreading purple or red rash develops on the skin. The rash then starts to blister causing the top layer of skin to die and shed.

Additional SJS side effects include:

• Skin pain
• Facial swelling
• Tongue swelling
• Skin sloughing
• Blisters on skin and mucous membranes (in mouth, nose, eyes, genitals)
• Hives
• Burning eyes

If physicians are able to contain the skin rash to 30 percent of the body it is medically referred to as Stevens Johnson Syndrome. However, if the rash spreads beyond 30 percent it is then considered Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) which carries a mortality rate of 40 percent.

SJS Complications

There are several long-term SJS complications that may occur after developing the allergic dermatological condition. Patients have reported getting a blood infection which by itself is a life-threatening condition that can cause organ failure.

SJS can also lead to eye problems including: Dry eyes, irritation, tissue damage, scarring, blindness.

Patients have also experienced permanent skin damage as a long-term side effect of developing SJS. As skin begins to grow back, victims will notice odd coloring, scars and bumps. Occasionally, SJS causes hair loss and nails to grow abnormally.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuits

SJS attorneys seek to financially compensate SJS victims for the costs of treating the skin condition as well as for the pain and suffering their clients have endured. A growing number of SJS lawsuits have been filed across the nation by plaintiffs who claim drug manufacturers failed to warn about SJS risks.

If you’ve experienced the allergic skin reaction known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome contact an SJS attorney to find out if you have legal claim. Often times, filing a SJS lawsuit is the only way for victims to financially recover from the medical condition.

Families who lost a loved one to Stevens Johnson Syndrome can also file a wrongful death lawsuit.