Washington Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Attorney - Lawyers Fighting for Sufferers of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is not a widely-known condition, but estimates indicate that approximately 100,000 people in the United States every year are killed by SJS and conditions that result from the onset of this disease that attacks the skin. It is a growing problem due to the progressively stronger influence of certain pharmaceutical medications, and is being litigated across the country by consumers who suffer from it through no fault of their own.

Below is an overview of the issues surrounding Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, including a definition and description of the condition, the causes of SJS, drugs associated with the onset of SJS and information regarding how to proceed legally if you or someone you love in Washington has been inflicted with this disease due to the culpable conduct of another party.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Defined

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is best described as a systemic allergic reaction to many different agents, including certain medications. The rash is generally found all over and anywhere on the body, and while the term 'rash' may seem to be less than serious, that's anything but the truth. SJS is a dangerous condition that is also extremely painful.

There are defined initial symptoms of SJS, and they include:

  • Persistent fever
  • Ill feeling in general
  • Headaches
  • Coughing fits
  • Visible skin irritation
  • Painful blisters
  • Aggressive lesions
Perhaps the most daunting aspect of SJS is that it is often misdiagnosed as something far less serious, and the longer SJS goes undetected, the more severe the risk of permanent injury and death becomes.

Ultimately, untreated or misdiagnosed SJS leads to a condition that's not unlike severe burns, whereby the skin blisters and becomes even more painful. Additionally, these blisters can become infected and create other problems, and even if death can be avoided, invasive and excruciating skin graft surgeries are commonly the course of treatment that's necessary.

Causes of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

One of the reasons that SJS was so statistically rare until recently was because the 'traditional' causes of SJS were also uncommon. These causes included certain bacterial infections, problems with skin graft procedures, influenza viruses, the mumps and herpes. However, the chances of any of these leading to the onset of SJS were always seen as exceedingly rare.

The rise in prevalence of certain types of prescription drugs has produced an unfortunate boost in the number of cases of SJS in patients, and the reason is that these drugs produce an allergic reaction that often does not begin to appear physically for at least one to two weeks. Once again, when these symptoms appear, they are often misdiagnosed as something far less severe.

Drugs Associated with the Onset of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

There have been several different drugs associated with the onset of SJS, and many of them have been removed from the market because of recalls. A few examples of drugs linked to SJS appear below:
  • Bextra - Bextra was removed from the US market in 2005, and it's a member of a group of drugs known as NSAIDs, which are anti-inflammatory medications. NSAID stands for Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Bextra was not removed because of its link to SJS, however, but rather because of its link to a higher risk of cardiovascular events.
  • Celebrex - Celebrex is another NSAID, but unlike Bextra, it has not been recalled despite similar concerns to what's been linked to Bextra. The drug has also been linked to other side effects prompting litigation.
  • Vioxx - Vioxx is another NSAID that was pulled from the American market in 2004. Once again, like Bextra, Vioxx was removed because of its link to cardiovascular events that included heart attacks but not because of its link to SJS.
  • Daypro - Daypro is another member of the NSAID group, and although it has not been pulled from the market, it has been the subject of much litigation both for its link to cardiovascular events as well as its alleged link to SJS.
  • Ibuprofen - Ibuprofen is perhaps the most well-known member of the NSAID group, and while it has not been the subject of any recalls, its use is strongly warned against if the patient has experienced any sort of heart problems or had any heart-related procedures done in the recent past.
  • Septra - Septra is an anti-biotic medication that's generally used to fight bacterial infections of different types. It is quite strong in nature and tends to kill bacteria ruthlessly. It has also been linked to the onset of SJS.

Contact a Seattle SJS Lawyer

If you or someone you love has suffered from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in Washington, you need not only medical but legal help. Contact the personal injury attorneys at Phillips Webster today to schedule a free initial consultation so you can obtain the help you need in holding those responsible for this terrible condition accountable.
 



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