STEVENS JOHNSON SYNDROME
Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is a rare, life-threatening reaction to medication. Allergic drug reactions are a major cause of death in the United States, causing more than 100,000 deaths among patients each year. Along with SJS, other adverse drug reactions include Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Symptoms (TENS) and Lyell's Syndrome.
Patients who have suffered or died from sjs have been reported to taking over-the-counter (otc) drugs, prescription pain relievers and antibiotic drugs: advil, ibuprofen, bextra, arava, bactrim, cotrim, septra, remicade, daypro, topamax and children's motrin and bactrim pediatric.
SJS has been linked to the use of the painkiller bextra, manufactured by pfizer, inc. and arava, manufactured by aventis. both drugs are prescribed to treat rheumatoid arthritis. due to the dangers of bextra, the fda asked pfizer to remove the pain medication from the u.s. market in april 2005, canada and the european union quickly followed.
Symptoms of Stevens Johnson Syndrome
Stevens Johnson Syndrome can begin with a fever, sore throat and headache and over a few days or minutes can turn into skin lesions and blisters.
Stevens Johnson Syndrome is characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, throat, eyes, genital tract and intestinal tract. Ulcers inside the mouth are the most common, irritation to the throat, tongue, gums, and lips. Affected individuals may also have skin lesions, blisters and bleeding in the lips, eyes, mouth, nasal passage and genital areas.
As Stevens Johnson Syndrome evolves, the skin literally sloughs off in sheets. Patients are typically treated in a hospital's burn unit. If the skin lesions become infected, or the patient develops lesions in the lungs, it can cause death.
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