Bicester, UKFor those unlucky enough to have caught the swine flu, there's more bad news: medications used to treat H1N1 symptoms may cause Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). A teenager in the UK developed SJS from a popular anti-flu medication made by Roche.
According to the Sun, a London-based newspaper, Samantha Millard started exhibiting signs of the serious H1N1 flu just a few weeks before Christmas. Millard called her doctor, but was directed to call a medical helpline service instead. An operator told the girl that her headache and runny nose probably reflected the onset of H1N1 flu, and advised her to take Tamiflu.
After taking just three pills, the 18-year-old landed in the hospital with severe blisters and skin rashes. Within a few days she was languishing in an intensive care unit, unable to breathe on her own. The teenager was soon transferred to a specialist burn unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, located in West London.
As of December 22, the teen was in stable condition and on the road to recovery. However, she was left with blisters all over her body and severe breathing difficulties. According to the Sun, Millard was hoping to become an airline stewardess—a plan she fears has been derailed by the scarring and other injuries she suffered.
According to the Sun article, SJS affects just three per one million persons, but the affliction can be devastating and life-threatening.
The manufacturer of Tamiflu is Roche, which was investigating the case in December.
Millard's mother said that their doctor believes Tamiflu triggered the outbreak of SJS. "The doctor said because the rash appeared after she took Tamiflu it was probably caused by Tamiflu," Deborah Millard said.
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