What Causes Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS)?

Although doctors can easily recognize the existence of Stevens Johnson Syndrome once the skin lesions appear, they are at a loss to describe the specific mechanism that causes the condition. In some cases, SJS is caused due to viral infection that irritates the mucous membranes and blood vessels underneath the skin, which in turn causes rashes, blisters, and lesions to appear. Some of these infections include herpes simplex, the flu, Epstein Barr virus, mumps, histoplasmosis, or cat-scratch fever.

One of the more frequent causes of Stevens Johnson Syndrome is the use of certain drugs. These drugs usually contain a compound called sulfonamide, which is usually the culprit in SJS cases because it can cause an extreme allergic reaction in sensitive people.

Some of the common drugs that can trigger allergic reactions like SJS include:

Advil® (ibuprofen)
Aleve® (naproxen)
Amoxicillin (penicillin)
Anacin® (salicylate)
Anaprox® (naproxen)
Ansaid® (flurbiprofen)
Ascriptin® (acetylsalicylic acid)
Bayer® (sodium salicylate)
Bextra® (valdecoxib) (prior to 2004)
Bufferin® (acetylsalicylic acid)
Celebrex® (celecoxib)
Children's Advil® (ibuprofen)
Children's Motrin® (ibuprofen)
Daypro® (oxaproxen)
Diflunisal (generic for Dolobid®)
Disalcid® (salsalate)
Doan's® Pills (sodium salicylate)
Dolobid® (diflunisal)
Ecotrin® (acetylsalicylic acid)
Excedrin® (ibuprofen)
Feldene® (piroxicam)
Indocin® (indomethacin)
Lodine® (etodolac)
Mobic® (meloxicam)
Motrin® (ibuprofen)
Motrin® IB (ibuprofen)
Naprosyn® (naproxen)
Nuprin® (ibuprofen)
Orudis® (ketoprofen)
Prilosec® (omeprazole)
Quinolone antibiotics (floxins)
Voltaren® (diclofenac)
Voltaren® XR (diclofenac)

The manufacturers of these drugs have a responsibility to provide safe products that do not endanger the health of their customers. Recent cases of drug-linked SJS involve relatively benign household drugs such as Advil and Motrin that claim to be safe for children. Unfortunately, some studies show 100,000 people die every year due to complications and infections caused by SJS.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is a potentially fatal disease that should be taken extremely seriously. If you or someone you know developed this condition due to a reaction to a drug, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering. You need to consult a dedicated and professional SJS attorney in order to secure appropriate restitution for your loss and hardship. Contact a Stevens-Johnson Syndrome lawyer who understands your anguish today.

Begin your free SJS Lawyer case review today.