The popular antibiotic known as Zithromax, or azithromycin, was approved by the FDA in 1991 to treat a variety of bacterial infections in both adults and children. However, it is unknown if it is safe for babies.

While azithromycin has been approved for treating children, it has not yet been established whether or not the drug is safe or effective for children under 6 months old. Children older than this are often prescribed Zithromax, especially if they are allergic to penicillin.

The drug, manufactured and distributed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc., is currently one of the most widely prescribed antibiotic drugs on the market.

Azithromycin Side Effects

While side effects of azithromycin tend to be relatively tame, such as a simple skin rash, others can be fatal. An allergic reaction to azithromycin is most likely harmless, but it never hurts to be cautious when looking out for and reporting symptoms – especially when it comes to azithromycin problems in children.

A mild allergic reaction to azithromycin is most common. Zithromax is usually taken in five or three day courses. Azithromycin problems for children generally include diarrhea, vomiting, and mild rashes, but keeping alert to any side effects will help you to assess whether or not a seemingly harmless symptom is progressing into something more dangerous.

To note, beyond simple side effects and allergic reactions, Zithromax (azithromycin) has been linked with the painful and even fatal skin rash known as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, or Zithromax SJS. The dangerous reaction can occur in both adults and children.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked that the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, include on the Zithromax label a warning about the increased risk of developing azithromycin SJS.

What is Azithromycin SJS?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a life-threatening skin condition, so it is essential to be aware of any azithromycin problems your child may experience while taking the antibiotic.

The skin condition is essentially an allergic reaction to drugs, and can become so severe the skin peels. SJS is often treated in a hospital’s burn unit due to these similarities.

In Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a purple or red rash spreads quickly across the skin, blistering and causing the top layer of skin to die and shed off.

SJS rashes are painful, and can cover up to 30 percent of the body. If more than 30 percent of the body is covered in these lesions, the condition is referred to as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis, or TEN.

TEN is simply a more severe and dangerous form of SJS, and comes with a greater risk of fatality. While the SJS mortality rate is at 15 percent (still a concerning number), the rate of fatalities in TEN cases is 40 percent.

Azithromycin SJS Lawsuits

Azithromycin lawsuits accuse Pfizer of downplaying the severity of azithromycin side effects while simultaneously over-marketing the medication to both patients and the wider medical community. Plaintiffs claim that, had they been adequately warned of the dangers surrounding azithromycin, they would have chosen a safer alternative.

If your child has experienced Stevens Johnson Syndrome or other serious symptoms after taking azithromycin, you should seek medical help immediately. If you or someone you know has experienced these symptoms or has been diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis after taking azithromycin, you may have reason to file a Zithromax SJS lawsuit.