Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, or SJS, is a painful and debilitating skin condition frequently caused by an allergic reaction to a drug, chemical, or disease. One of the most common triggers for this reaction is the compound sulfonamide, a common element in many drugs including antibiotics, barbiturates, sulfa drugs, certain Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs such as the COX-2 Inhibitors Bextra and Celebrex, and Ibuprofen found in Advil and Motrin. Other factors that can result in SJS are the herpes virus, mumps, influenza (the Flu), and the Epstein-Bar virus.

Doctors term the initial stages of SJS erythema multiforme. The disease begins as several concentric circle skin rashes or lesions, often found on the fingers or hands. These lesions begin to spread throughout arms and legs, and as they progress they begin to cause blisters throughout the skin. Many people also report severe itching, especially when the rash spreads over more of the body. In severe cases, SJS will irritate blood vessels and mucous membranes under the skin which can result in the skin shedding or "sloughing" off. When SJS occurs over more than 30% of the body, doctors describe it as a more intense condition called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome. TENS, as it is called in the medical community, is a serious medical condition that is potentially fatal if left unchecked. SJS and TENS can also spread to internal organs such as the lungs, kidneys, and liver.

Treating Stevens-Johnson Syndrome often requires extensive recovery in a burn treatment center or similar facility. The complications of SJS often resemble severe second degree burns, and as the body sheds the skin it becomes susceptible to dangerous and potentially fatal infections. SJS can also spread to the eyes, genitals, or mouth, where it can cause extensive scarring, excruciating pain, blindness, and even death.

A number of popular medications have been accused of causing SJS in a number of innocent people. Advil and Children's Motrin in particular have been linked to severe cases of SJS in young children who will have their lives forever changed due to the negligence and lack of foresight on the part of drug manufacturers. In fact, a seven year old girl who took Children's Motrin suffered an SJS-related allergic reaction so severe that it spread throughout her body and finally invaded her eyes, causing irreversible blindness. At the time of the incident, there was no warning on the packaging of Children's Motrin to warn parents of the potential danger to their children.

Part of the tragedy of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is that statistics and figures on this potentially deadly disease are extremely difficult to determine because most cases go unreported. The Food and Drug Administration does not require that manufacturers or doctors report such drug reactions, so the consuming public and even some doctors are unaware of the risks these drugs pose. Furthermore, the COX-2 drugs Bextra and Celebrex are know to contain sulfonamides, which can result in SJS or TENS in people sensitive to the chemical. In fact, the FDA cited SJS as one of the main reasons it removed Bextra from the market.