Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare and life-threatening skin rash, and is attributed to multiple causes.

It is important to be aware of the potential causes of this condition so you can be fully informed of the risks and also cautious of the condition’s symptoms.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome Causes

One of the most common causes of Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a side effect of medication. Many people taking drugs linked with SJS do not know about this serious side effect.

A study from the University of Montreal recently reported two Stevens Johnson Syndrome cases after patients used Azulfidine (sulfasalazine).

Azulfidine is often used to treat bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis. While Azulfidine does not actually treat the condition itself, it does treat its symptoms. These symptoms may include fever, stomach pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.

What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome?

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (also known as SJS) is a dangerous disorder that affects a person’s skin and mucous membrane. Essentially, Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a severe allergic reaction, and usually first appears as a red or purple rash. The rash quickly spreads to cover up to a large portion of a patient’s skin.

The top layer of affected skin dies and peels off. The effects of Stevens Johnson Syndrome are similar enough to serious burns that it is often treated in a hospital’s burn unit.

Once SJS has progressed to cover more than 30 percent of the skin, it is reclassified as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), which is simply a more severe form of SJS. Between 30 and 40 percent of TEN patients do not survive. Comparatively, there’s a 5 to 15 percent chance of fatality for SJS patients.

Those that do recover from the effects of this serious condition are usually left with severe scarring where the rashes once were. In some cases, a patient’s skin requires major skin grafting for proper healing. Recovery from Stevens Johnson Syndrome can take between weeks and months.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome symptoms include:

• Facial swelling
• Tongue Swelling
• Skin Pain
• A red or purple skin rash that spreads within hours to days
• Blisters and shedding of skin
• Hives

Patients taking medications linked with causing Stevens Johnson Syndrome should be aware of SJS symptoms and wary of mild symptoms like a simple skin rash turning more serious. For some patients, immediate removal of the drug can significantly improve their prognosis.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome Lawsuits

An increasing number of patients and their families have been filing SJS lawsuits over drugs like Azulfidine, alleging that the drugs’ manufacturers failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about the severe and even fatal risks of taking their drug.

While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of a patient with SJS or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to compensate for financial expenses often incurred by medical bills and lost wages.

If you or someone you know has suffered from SJS or TEN as a result of using Azulfidine or another medication, you may have reason to file a Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuit to receive financial damages for your medical, financial, and emotional suffering.