Since first being approved by the FDA in 1992, Zithromax has seen much use in treating many kinds of bacterial infections.

Today it’s frequently used to treat ear infections, respiratory infections, skin infections, and sexually transmitted diseases, among other conditions.

Part of Zithromax’s popularity comes from its shorter courses, which both reduce the time the patient has to be on medication and the chance that the patient may make an error in taking their medication.

Azithromycin, the generic term for the active ingredient in Zithromax, comes in three- and five-day courses known as Z-Pak and as a single mega-dose branded Zmax.

Between its different forms, Zithromax has become one of the most frequently prescribed antibiotics in the U.S., with over 40 million people receiving Zithromax prescriptions in 2011 alone.

But Zithromax, like practically any other drug, comes with a risk that the patient will develop certain side effects, like a Zithromax skin rash.

Therefore the convenience associated with Zithromax is pitted against certain drawbacks.

Some of these risks are more than just minor inconveniences – they can be severely debilitating, and possibly even deadly.

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in May 2012 found that patients treated with azithromycin had an increased risk of cardiovascular death compared to patients who took a different antibiotic or no drug at all.

Reasons to Take Zithromax Skin Rash Seriously

Other serious complications may arise out of what appears at first to be a minor inconvenience, a simple Zithromax skin rash.

This side effect may be the first sign of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a drug reaction that aggressively attacks the skin and mucous membranes throughout the body and leaves the patient exposed to further, potentially deadly issues.

Patients taking Zithromax who develop SJS may first notice flu-like symptoms, such as cough, fever, and body aches.

Since these symptoms resemble those of the flu, they are often ignored and can delay identification of the condition as the serious threat that it actually is.

Within a few hours or days of these symptoms, patients tend to break out in a Zithromax skin rash over the trunk. The rash soon spreads to the rest of the body.

If an SJS reaction, the skin affected by this rash will blister and may come loose from the layer of dermis below it. As this outer layer of skin peels away, the patient loses fluids and gets increasingly exposed to a risk of infection.

Treatment for Stevens Johnson Syndrome may require hospitalization over several days or weeks. Providers will focus on managing symptoms – especially pain, which can be extreme – and preventing infection. The loss of outer skin puts the patient at risk for potentially deadly systemic infections and organ failure.

While there are other possible causes of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, it most commonly begins as a reaction to medication.

One case study published in the journal Acta Dermatovenerologica Croatica in 2006 details the case of a 62 year old woman who developed a Zithromax skin rash, then full-blown SJS days after beginning a course of azithromycin.

The authors of that study also mentioned one other case in which a child’s Stevens Johnson Syndrome was associated with a course of Zithromax.

If you or someone you love suffered an SJS reaction after taking Zithromax, you may be eligible to file a legal claim.  A specialized Zithromax attorney can help.