Louisiana Fights Back Against Stevens Johnson Syndrome

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has declared August “Stevens Johnson Syndrome Awareness Month” to raise awareness of the skin disorder, an autoimmune reaction that can prove lethal. 

Autoimmune reactions are events where the body’s own immune system goes haywire and starts attacking the patient’s own tissues. In the case of SJS, the immune system treats the skin as a foreign infection. SJS causes extensive damage and can cause permanent disability like scaring and blindness. Extreme cases can kill the patient. A number of medications can trigger SJS, as can infections and very rarely cancers. 

In response to Stevens Johnson Syndrome Awareness Month, several events have been planned to promote awareness of SJS. The SJS Awareness Louisiana Committee has arranged a walk on August 24, 2013, to engage the community. Registration fees and other fundraising will go toward SJS-related organizations.

The various organizations involved have the stated goal of raising awareness for SJS so that cases can be recognized more quickly. Treatment options are limited, but early detection of the telltale symptoms of SJS can help mitigate the situation. For example, if physicians recognize the somewhat rare condition quickly, they can discontinue the medication that triggered it, lessening the impact. 

Some patients have developed SJS or its more sever form Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) after taking the blockbuster antibiotic Zithromax. Zithromax is one of the world’s best-selling antibiotics. It is effective against a wide spectrum of bacteria, but is structurally very different from penicillin and its relatives, which made it a godsend for patients with allergies to the penicillin family of antibiotics. However, Zithromax can trigger this life-threatening reaction in certain individuals. 

Lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of Zithromax over SJS and TEN. These SJS lawsuits allege that the manufacturers of these drugs knew – or reasonably should have been aware – of the risk Zithromax SJS based on post-market surveillance, clinical trials, and epidemiological studies. These lawsuits further allege that the manufacturers failed to act on this information in a timely fashion, preventing patients and health care workers from having the information they needed to make informed decisions regarding their medical options.

If you or someone you care about took Zithromax and went on to develop SJS or TEN, you probably have a lot to deal with. At minimum, the disease requires serious medical care. Serious cases may require physical therapy and adapting to disabilities like blindness. In the most extreme cases, the patient may die, leaving the family to cope with their loss. 

Whatever has happened, you need to remember that you have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Zithromax, Z-Pak, Azithromycin Stevens Johnson Syndrome Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. From here, you can enter information about your situation for a free review by an SJS lawyer with a background in this type of situation. From here, you can receive specific guidance on the best steps to take in your exact situation.