It does not take long for a patient to see what looks like an innocuous rash turn into something much worse if they are facing Stevens Johnson Syndrome side effects. More significantly, trying to pay for the extensive care required to treat SJS is difficult, as a recent musical performance to raise funds to help pay for a nurse’s medical bills indicates.

A 23-year-old nurse has reportedly been dealing with Stevens Johnson Syndrome for roughly two months. After the SJS rash hit, along with flu-like symptoms, doctors later diagnosed her as having the dangerous toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). TEN is a progression of SJS side effects and results in entire sections of skin sloughing off the body. Because of the extent of the damage caused by TEN, patients typically require treatment in burn units.

The sheer amount of damage from SJS and TEN also contributes to extensive hospital bills. The nurse is not yet ready for discharge, yet has reportedly already racked up $100,000 and will still need to rehabilitate. She may also face a lifetime of kidney dialysis unless she is lucky enough to find an organ donor. The Stevens-Johnson Syndrome side effects may require further skin grafts.

While the bills are mostly paid, the young woman will still need to rehabilitate and take special care with the kidney failure. Doctors told her family that a recurrence of SJS/TEN is possible–the disorder affects the immune system and there can be flareups years down the line.

What many people may not realize is that while SJS side effects are relatively rare, medical research has not established why it occurs, but only the rates for various medications. Epilepsy medications including Dilantin and Lamictal carry U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) “black box” warnings because of the higher than average risk of developing SJS while taking the medications. Yet even over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and children’s fever relief pills can lead to the rash and in some cases, toxic epidermal necrolysis.

When starting any new medical treatment, patients should be wary of any rashes on the extremities or face that come along with a fever and chills. While there is no cure for SJS and TEN, treatment may limit the ravages of SJS side effects before it progresses into toxic epidermal necrolysis.