Motrin, an over-the-counter pain reliever, has been linked with potentially fatal allergic reaction. A 7-year-old girl sued the maker of Children's Motrin for failing to label the over-the-counter pain reliever with a warning that it could cause an allergic reaction that caused her blindness.

The lawsuit states that the child suffered from Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a potentially fatal rash of the skin and mucous membranes, which caused her to go blind. Ibuprofen, a widely used pain reliever, is the active ingredient in Motrin, Advil, and a variety of medicines. The condition has occurred with users of the antibiotic Bactrim, pain reliever Bextra, and a variety of other drugs as well as ibuprofen.

"As the makers of Children's Motrin products, we are deeply concerned with all matters related to our products and we are investigating the situation," said Bonnie Jacobs, a spokesperson for McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, the Johnson & Johnson subsidiary that makes Motrin.

In addition to her blindness and several eye surgeries, Sabrina Brierton Johnson is now extremely sensitive to sunlight and must be covered up to go outdoors, her mother said.

Jean McCawley, founder of Stevens-Johnson Foundation, whose daughter suffers from the condition, said cases are typically under-reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because there is no mandatory reporting system for adverse drug reactions.

Other side effects of Stevens-Johnson-Syndrome are rash, blisters or red splotches on the skin, a persistent fever, swelling eyelids, and flu-like symptoms.