After a few years of parenting, lots of parents get familiar with the array of different antibiotics on the market.

Zithromax, or azithromycin, can be a good choice for young patients because the course is shorter than that of many other antibiotics.

At the same time, Zithromax can cause side effects just like any other drug.

Parents concerned about Zithromax safety for children may do well to know what signs and symptoms to look for that might indicate a severe adverse reaction to Zithromax.

Promoting Zithromax Safety for Children

According to the Mayo Clinic, Zithromax safety for children may require regular doctor visits during treatment to confirm the medication is working as expected.

Parents are encouraged to check with their doctor if children’s symptoms do not improve within a few days. It may be necessary to take blood or urine samples to ensure the medicine is not causing unwanted effects.

Children taking Zithromax may have a severe allergic reaction to the drug.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include rash, itching, hives, difficulty breathing, or difficulty swallowing.

These symptoms may be indicators of anaphylaxis, a severe systemic allergic reaction that can be life-threatening.

The same symptoms could also be associated with a different condition known as Stevens-Johnson syndrome.

Known for attacking the skin and mucous membranes, SJS can also threaten the patient’s life.

Symptoms of SJS

The earliest symptoms of SJS tend to resemble flu symptoms. For that reason, the condition is sometimes misdiagnosed at first, causing a delay in treatment.

These initial symptoms may include cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, or body aches.

Usually within a few days, the skin symptoms of SJS start to appear. These symptoms typically start with a rash that breaks out on the skin.

Areas within this rash may blister, and sections of the outer layer of skin may start to peel away from the layers beneath.

Losing a significant area of skin can expose the child to infection. These secondary infections are a significant danger for SJS patients. They can lead to blood poisoning, shock, or multiple organ failure.

SJS can also cause lesions in the mucous membranes, particularly those in the eyes. Patients with SJS often develop conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers or corneal scarring. Damage to the eyes can leave the patient blind.

While sometimes a Zithromax rash is just a rash, it could just as easily signal an attack of SJS.

In the interest of Zithromax safety for children, the Mayo Clinic recommends that parents discontinue their children’s Zithromax and check in with their doctor immediately if the child shows red skin lesions or blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin while taking Zithromax.

Other symptoms that may warrant a doctor’s attention include severe acne or skin rash, sores or ulcers on the skin, and fever or chills.

SJS is traumatic for patients of any age. Treatment may require days or weeks spent in a hospital, giving the body a controlled environment in which to heal itself.

Even after SJS resolves, it can leave the patient with permanent residuals like scarring and skin discoloration.