Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is usually caused by a response to a medicine that has been taken. The response may happen within one week to two months of taking the medicine. SJS may also be caused by infection, vaccinations, or diseases involving your organs or whole body. The cause of SJS may be unknown, and SJS risk may be genetic.

SJS causes are broken into four different categories: - Infections - Drug Reactions - Malignancies - Unknown Causes.

Drug reactions, as the cause of SJS and TEN, are rarer than that of underlying infection, but can be prevented by avoidance of the drug. SJS has been associated with over-the-counter pain relievers including Advil, Motrin, Tylenol and Children's Motrin. Antibiotics, including those based on sulfa, phenytoin or penicillin, and drugs.

Dilantin (generic name: phenytoin) is a widely-prescribed antiepileptic drug issued for treatment of partial and generalized tonic clonic seizures associated with epilepsy.

Some experts agree that a reaction to Dilantin can cause the onset of this horrible disease. While Dilantin has been recalled numerous times since its introduction, it is still prescribed today.

Underlying viral infections that have been associated with Stevens Johnson Syndrome include herpes simplex, AIDS, coxackie viral infections, influenza, hepatitis, mumps, mycoplasmal infections and others.

Bacterial infections include diphtheria, Brucellosis, mycobacteriae, mycoplasma pneumonia and typhoid. Fungal infections previously associated with SJS include coccidioidomycosis, dermatophytosis and histoplasmosis. Certain types of protozoal infections, including malaria and trichomoniasis, have also been reported. Although Stevens Johnson Syndrome is relatively rare in children, it has been associated with Epstein-Barr virus.

If you believe your Dilantin use has put you or a loved one in danger, please fill out our Case Review Contact Form to the left on this page.