Sarah Markley  |  August 29, 2016

Category: Legal News

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Zithromax Blindness ChildrenZithromax is a common antibiotic that is prescribed to treat a number of different infections in both children and adults, however it may have some serious side effects.

Alarmingly, in recent studies, links have been found between Zithromax and blindness in children.

What is Zithromax?

Zithromax, generically known as azithromycin, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1991 for bacterial infections. Because many people, including children, are allergic to penicillin, Zithromax has been a good choice.

Although Zithromax is used for children, it is not approved for infants under the age of 6 months.

Zithromax, which goes by Zmax, or Z-Pak, is manufactured and distributed by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc., and is one of the most popular antibiotics in the U.S.

Zithromax is prescribed to treat bacterial infections primarily, ranging from ear infections to pneumonia to STDs. Zithromax is preferable because of the shorter dosage time. Zithromax dosage can last between three and five days.

Though Zithromax has earned a good reputation among doctors and patients, there have been many adverse side affects reported including Zithromax and blindness in children.

Zithromax and Blindness in Children

As far back as 2012, Pfizer, the maker of Zithromax, had been warned by the FDA of the possible serious side effects of the drug.

Not all people who take Zithromax experience serious side effects. Some children have a minor rash or experience diarrhea or vomiting. But there are reports of some children reacting very strongly to Zithromax. They report suffering from vision problems and even blindness.

One of the major side effects of Zithromax is a condition called Stevens Johnson Syndrome, often called SJS. It is a life-threatening autoimmune reaction in which the patient develops a painful rash and extensive blisters, and the skin begins to slough off in large layers.

SJS severely affects the mucous membranes of the body. And in many cases, affects the eyes. The way Zithromax and blindness in children are connected is that, although Zithromax is attempting to treat a different bacterial infection in the body, it reduces the body’s defenses to certain other bacteria.

A 2006 study found a link between Zithromax and blindness. It found that those who take Zithromax are 4 times more likely to develop an eye infection. Sometimes these eye infections become serious and can lead to blindness.

Because Zithromax decreases the body’s ability to fight off infection on its own, it puts patients at risk for developing trachoma. Trachoma is a very serious and highly contagious eye infection that often leads to vision impairment or complete blindness.

Trachoma is spread by contact with the eye, eyelids, nose and throat secretions of those who are infected. It can also be spread through towels or handkerchiefs.

The World Health Organization lists trachoma as the leading preventable cause of blindness in the world. WHO projects that trachoma has blinded 6 million people worldwide.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The Zithromax attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or Zithromax class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Zithromax lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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If you or a loved one were diagnosed with liver failure, kidney failure, Stevens Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis after taking Zithromax, Z-Pak, Zmax or azithromycin, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify by filling out the short form below.

A Zithromax attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.

Please Note: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in you not getting signed up as a client, if you qualify, or getting you dropped as a client.

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Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.