The family of a Virginia Beach boy who died two years ago from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) is suing Johnson & Johnson, the makers of Children’s Tylenol and Motrin.

According to the report, six-year-old Marcus Gauldin died from complications of SJS, which he got nine months after taking Tylenol for a fever. The child’s mother, Natalya Lowman, gave her then three-year-old children’s Tylenol, thinking it was perfectly safe.

There was no warning on the box of Tylenol that SJS was a potential risk, which is why the family’s estate is now bringing suit against Johnson & Johnson. The family is claiming that the 130-year-old pharmaceutical giant was aware that both Tylenol and Motrin could cause SJS, yet did nothing to warn patients of this risk.

What Happened to Marcus? 

Marcus was a “normal three-year-old” who became blind and unable to care of himself less than a year after taking Children’s Tylenol. He was in and out of hospitals all across Virginia for three years, unfortunately never making a full recovery.

As with many SJS victims, Marcus’ symptoms began with a high fever in May of 2014. His mother gave him a dose of Children’s Tylenol that evening to help with the fever, not realizing that was the reason he was suffering in the first place. As the condition progressed, he experienced a loss of appetite and vomiting.

He was then given Children’s Motrin after being admitted to the hospital.

After this second dosage of medication, the condition worsened and Marcus started to experience a wide range of serious medical complications, all of which were in line with the symptoms of SJS. It wasn’t until Marcus was transferred to the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters in Norfolk that he was properly diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

What symptoms did Marcus experience?   

Over the course of two months in the hospital, Marcus experienced the following symptoms:

• Severe skin lesions all over his body
• Open sores on his chest and stomach
• Damage to his eyes and lungs

Marcus’ mother says he looked like a burn victim during these months in the hospital, which is common for SJS victims.

After finally being released from the hospital, Marcus’ family tried to help him live a normal life, but he was now blind and suffering from a wide range of life-threatening complications from the disease.

Tragically, Marcus passed away on March 24, 2017 at the age of six after doctors were unable to get him a lung transplant, the most serious of his injuries.

Filing an SJS Lawsuit 

It is no secret that SJS is a very complicated condition that often proves deadly. For patients to recover, the condition must be caught early on and an aggressive treatment plan should be implemented. Like in the case of young Marcus, this is not always the case.

If you have been diagnosed with SJS or lost a loved one to the disease, please contact the experienced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome lawyers at Wormington & Bollinger. We are here to help you bring a lawsuit against those responsible, such as the drug’s manufacturer who knowingly put a product on the market that could cause harm or death.