News for December 3rd, 2008

Young SJS victim creates Web site for children with SJS

About 300 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) each year. It is a serious and life-threatening disorder often caused by an allergic reaction to prescription and over-the-counter medications, and it can affect people of all ages, including children. Those afflicted by the disease experience severe and often painful inflammation of the mucus membranes and, if left untreated, it can result in blindness, serious health problems, and death.

Julie McCawley became a victim of when she was just 11 months old. Her mother, Jean McCawley, established the Foundation in 1995 to provide the public and medical communities with information about the adverse allergic drug reactions and to serve as a support outlet for victims of and their families. Today, Julie is 14 years old and as a result of has lost vision in one of her eyes.

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