The Zithromax Side Effects of Children, in Their Own Words

Pittsburgh, PAThey are beautiful, innocent victims of a horrifying disease. Some have died, whereas others have survived with emotional and physical scars. These are the children who have been made to deal with Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TENS, the worst form of SJS). And for some, Zithromax side effects were the trigger.

Their stories are chronicled in a website, sjskidsupport.org, with photographs and short bios in their own words. Their stories are compelling.

There is the story of Matthew, a five-year-old who began suffering from Zithromax Stevens Johnson Syndrome four days after starting on Zithromax for an ear infection and a high fever. He battled his SJS affliction at St. Peters University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

There’s Miranda, who was diagnosed with Stevens Johnson Syndrome in November 2004. Her troubles began when she came down with mycoplasma pneumonia and was prescribed Children’s Motrin and Zithromax. Five days later she showed signs of Zithromax rash and was admitted to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Then there is Caleb’s story: “Hi! My name is Caleb McCourry and I am 10 years old from Norman Oklahoma. I had SJS in October of 2007. I got ill with what the doctor thought was Mycoplasma Pneumonia and was put on Zithromax. I started to show signs of SJS after 5 days but was misdiagnosed by my doctor. Fortunately my mom researched my symptoms and came up with SJS. My parents took me to The University of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital where they said it was indeed SJS. I was in the hospital for 17 days. I am well now and have no side effects thank goodness…”

Others have not done so well, and have gone through horrifying experiences. Stephanie writes that her battle with SJS/TENS began two weeks before her third birthday. She lost 97 percent of her skin, all of her hair, her nails, her voice and her eyesight. The little girl was in the hospital for three months. Doctors didn’t think she would survive, but she bravely fought and beat the odds. Stephanie writes that she is 13 now. Her eyesight has yet to return after 10 years. But she is glad to have survived.

Why?

No one knows why Zithromax reactions happen, and similar reactions to other medications. Zithromax is a powerful and effective antibiotic prescribed for a wide variety of complaints. However, in rare cases, patients have experienced allergic reactions to the medication. Plaintiffs having filed a Zithromax lawsuit claim hold that manufacturers could have done a better job of sharing that possibility with consumers.

Plaintiffs have said that had they known about the potential for Stevens Johnson Syndrome, which often begins as an innocent-looking Zithromax skin rash, they would have researched other medications, rather than risking the horrific Zithromax side effects that some patients have endured.

Zithromax is not the only medication that has been known to trigger SJS. But it’s alleged to be one of them. And the journey for a Zithromax skin patient can be long and arduous. Painful blisters form both outside the body and within the moist, mucous areas of the mouth, and throat. The eyes can be threatened - many SJS patients emerge completely blind or sensitive to light.

Their skin can slough away in large sheets, requiring treatment in a burn unit. The experience is horrific and difficult. To think that children are made to go through such a battle is beyond comprehension.

It is not known if any of the parents of the children featured in the sjskidsupport.org site have contacted a Zithromax lawyer. But that’s for another day. Today, we honor the brave kids who have battled and survived Zithromax SJS (and SJS triggered from other medications) through no fault of their own. And we mourn those who did not survive…