Posts Tagged ‘ Stevens Johnson Syndrome ’

SJS on Discovery Health Mystery Diagnosis

March 15th, 2010. By AbiK

discovery health mystery diagnosis SJS on Discovery Health Mystery Diagnosis Imagine thinking your child—as an infant—has a bad case of chicken pox only to find out that it’s not chicken pox but a very bad reaction to some medication (in this instance, an anti-convulsant). Then imagine finding out that the reaction has a name: Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). And it can bring on a number of life-threatening symptoms in addition to leaving scars and medical conditions that can last a lifetime.

That’s what happened when Julie McCawley, now 16, was an infant and was admitted to a hospital for what was seemingly a very bad case of chicken pox. Covered with burn-like blisters, her eyes began to swell shut and she was finally diagnosed with SJS as the result of taking an anti-convulsant.

While Julie is fortunate to be alive, she has since endured 13 surgeries to counter the lasting effects of SJS and she is now blind in her right eye and photophobic. She also carries the scars from the blisters that once covered her body.

Discovery Health’s Mystery Diagnosis will be airing a segment on Julie’s experience—it’s a program that all parents should aim to watch to become more aware of SJS, which can be difficult to diagnose—and according to Julie’s mother, Jean, that’s simply because “so few doctors are familiar with SJS”.

The Discovery Health Mystery Diagnosis program on SJS will air on March 22—check your local listings for times and channels.

Tags: Discovery Health, SJS, Stevens Johnson Syndrome
Posted in Drugs/Medical | 30162 Comments »2010-03-15+18%3A25%3A26AbiK

Week Adjourned: 8.7.09

August 7th, 2009. By LucyC

rosecoloredglasses Week Adjourned: 8.7.09 What a week for securities class actions!

Top Class Actions

Too much of a positive outlook? Seems this telecom company had to take off the rose-colored glasses. Comtech got hit with a class action lawsuit this week, alleging that certain of the company’s officers and directors violated federal securities laws by producing overly positive statements regarding the company’s revenue, and future earnings prospects. Apparently the mobile communications business could be doing better. The class period for the suit is between September 17, 2008 and March 9, 2009, inclusive, and anyone who purchased common stock in the company during that time could be eligible.

Top Settlements

Wal-born is Wal-dead? If Wal-born isn’t protecting you from the cold or flu, then perhaps a free flu shot will. Walgreens has agreed to reimburse consumers who purchased Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Comtech, SJS, Stevens Johnson Syndrome, Walgreens, Week Adjourned
Posted in Week Adjourned | 986No Comments »Week+Adjourned%3A+8.7.092009-08-07+21%3A44%3A37LucyC

SJS: to Screen or not to Screen?

July 29th, 2009. By LucyC

In March of this year, the FDA announced that it would be investigating the anti-epileptic drugs phenytoin and fosphenytoin in connection with their potential to cause Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). (fyi, Phenytoin is marketed as Dilantin, Phenytek and generics. Fosphenytoin sodium is marketed as Cerebyx and generics.)

One of the factors that may have played into the FDA investigation is a reported higher incidence of SJS in Asian patients taking these drugs, specifically Asians who test positive for the human leukocyte antigen allele HLA-B*1502.

While the FDA reports that as much as 15 percent of the population in China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines may have this allele, they don’t believe there’s enough information to warrant testing for the allele in the US for patients of Asian ancestry—yet. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Cerebyx, Dilantin, SJS, Stevens Johnson Syndrome
Posted in Drugs/Medical | 862No Comments »SJS%3A+to+Screen+or+not+to+Screen%3F2009-07-29+14%3A24%3A48LucyC