Stevens Johnson Syndrome Side Effects Can Confuse Parents

Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a dangerous autoimmune disorder that can damage mucus membranes and even be fatal in rare cases, but its rarity and resemblance to less dangerous conditions like an allergic reaction to medication can cause problems for parents.

That was the case for the Bowman family in Tennessee. Their young daughter Izzie was on ibuprofen and amoxicillin to treat an ear infection. According to the TV station WRCB, her parents started noticing the red skin rash common to Stevens Johnson Syndrome side effects but also commonly looks like an allergy. Izzie Bowman stopped taking the medications, but the rash spread to 90 percent of her body and a doctor diagnosed her with the potentially fatal autoimmune disorder.

While Stevens Johnson Syndrome treatments used to help minimize the damage are relatively unproven, the Bowmans decided to try out immunoglobulin therapy. It reverses the actions of the immune system to limit SJS side effects which actually causes the body to attack itself. However, the treatment itself can be more problematic than the condition, with kidney failure, blood clots and strokes a possibility, according to the Tennessee TV station.

In either case, either drug could have caused the autoimmune disorder that afflicts several hundred Americans each year. Both have been linked to Stevens Johnson Syndrome side effects. The good news for Izzie Bowman is that it did not progress into toxic epidermal necrolysis, a more serious and potentially deadly form of Stevens Johnson Syndrome. As its name suggests, toxic epidermal necrolysis causes entire swaths of skin to die off. For some patients, skin grafts are not even possible because sites used to harvest skin are also the site of dead tissue.

The most important step for patients and families to take, according SJS lawyers, is to identify the symptoms of SJS as early as possible. Flu-like symptoms combined with a rash are a warning sign that someone who is taking Tylenol, ibuprofen, amoxicillin or other drugs should visit an emergency room immediately for treatment.

If you or someone you know was unaware of these risks, legal options for people who developed SJS side effects are available. You can get a free consultation and a case eligibility review at the Stevens Johnson (SJS) & Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. You may be eligible to pursue damages against the drug maker whose product led to your condition. Learn more when you fill out the short form at the investigation for a no-cost legal review from a Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawyer today.