Stevens Johnson Syndrome Diagnosis

A Stevens Johnson Syndrome diagnosis is very serious. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with the condition, you probably already know the severity of the condition and the pain and discomfort it can cause.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a serious skin disease in which the epidermis disconnects from the middle layer of the skin, causing the outermost layers of skin cells to die and shed (medically known as slough) off the body. As the condition progresses, it can cause a number of painful symptoms, including skin lesions, rashes, hives, blisters and pain. Additionally, patients may experience fever, sore throat, facial/tongue inflammation and permanent loss of vision. If left untreated, both conditions can be fatal.

According to a study conducted by the Jefferson Medical College and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Stevens Johnson Syndrome typically affects:

Caucasians
men twice as often as it affects women
individuals during the early spring and winter
individuals between their 20s and 40s (though children as young as 3 months old have been reported to develop SJS)

While most cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome have unknown and unidentifiable causes, occasionally, this condition has been proven to be caused by a severely negative reaction to particular medications. When a medication plays a role in causing SJS, victims may have a legal claim against the drug's manufacturer, in which they may be able to seek compensation for their injuries and losses.

If you’ve experienced the painful symptoms of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, and you believe it may have been caused by a medication, call (800) 481-7430 to find out if you qualify to seek compensation for the damages you’ve incurred and the challenges you may still face.

Stevens Johnson Syndrome Diagnostic Criteria

To definitively diagnose SJS, doctors may look over a patient's medical history, take tissue samples and perform a biopsy. Doctors will also require patients to stop using any suspected medications they had been taking prior to developing symptoms.

Drugs that may be linked to a development of Stevens Johnson Syndrome include:

Allopurinol and other gout-fighting drugs
Dilantin and other anti-convulsant medications
Children's Motrin, Children’s Advil
Ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, Bextra and other non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
Sulfonamides, penicillins and other medications prescribed to treat bacterial injections

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 300 new cases of Stevens Johnson Syndrome are diagnosed each year, and nearly 100,000 patients die from SJS each year in the U.S. For the best chances of survival, patients will most likely need to be hospitalized immediately, and treatments will start in burn wards or intensive care units. While some milder cases may be cured within weeks, in the most severe cases, it will take months until a patient recovers, some of which will have life-long consequences.

Please contact our Stevens Johnson Syndrome attorneys now for a legal consultation.

Disease Breaking News

"Former NBA player Manute Bol dies after fighting Stevens-Johnson Syndrome"

Manute Bol, a former NBA player and humanitarian, recently passed away from kidney failure and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Bol, who was 47-years-old, was renowned for his 7"7' frame and tireless efforts to improve his native Sudan for his fe...

» Read More

"Stop smoking drug linked to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome"

Health officials and a drug company in Canada are issuing stronger warnings about an anti-smoking drug, which cautions that the drug could cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

Health Canada and Pfizer Canada increased the warnings for the smoking ce...

» Read More

"Family of jailed woman with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome criticize prison staff"

The family of a jailed woman who is suffering from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is criticizing the prison staff for allowing her condition to go untreated.

Charity-Lekiea Brown was recently sent to prison for not paying child support and a prison d...

» Read More

Online Lawyer Source

Lawyers & Legal News Near You

Need Legal Help?

Start Here for a Free Case Review!