Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) - including symptoms, treatment and prevention

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a very rare but potentially serious illness that tin affect males or females at any age, but is more common during adolescence. Information technology is caused by particular strains of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus (and less normally Streptococcus pyogenes) which are able to produce a toxin.

How TTS is spread

These bacteria are normally found on the skin, in the nose, armpit, groin or vagina of one in every iii people, where they unremarkably live without causing any health problems (colonisation). In rare cases, the leaner produce a toxin which can crusade TSS in some individuals.

The bulk of cases of TSS occur in women during menstruation, mostly associated with tampon use. At that place is no evidence that tampons direct crusade TSS – the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus are the cause of the affliction – not the tampon. This explains why women using pads, men and children tin can get TSS. However, women who use tampons during their menstruum have a higher risk of TSS than women who practice not. Cases accept also followed surgery. In more than 30% of cases, no obvious bacterial infection can exist found.

Signs And Symptoms

The symptoms of TSS are acquired past the consequence of the toxin on the body, rather than the bacterial infection itself.

Symptoms include:

  • a sudden onset of high fever
  • airsickness
  • diarrhoea
  • dizziness (from depression blood pressure)
  • muscle aches
  • confusion and collapse
  • a sunburn-like rash nowadays at the fourth dimension of disease, followed past peeling of the skin on the palms and soles ane to 2 weeks subsequently.

Diagnosis of TSS

TSS is diagnosed by clinical presentation. Sometimes bacteria producing toxin can exist grown from specimens from the patient.

Incubation catamenia

(fourth dimension between becoming infected and developing symptoms)

Uncertain, probably varies from example to case.

Infectious period

(time during which an infected person can infect others)

Direct person-to-person spread does not occur.

Treatment for TSS

Antibiotics are given. If severely ill, patients may need to be supported in the intensive care unit in a hospital.

Women who have had an episode of TSS are at increased take a chance of a second episode. Therefore a doctor may advise confronting tampon employ in women who have had TSS.

Prevention of TSS

  • If high fever, vomiting or diarrhoea develops during menses, terminate using tampons and seek medical advice immediately. Information technology may not be TSS but this must be verified because TSS tin be dangerous if non treated in its early stages
  • the risk of TSS may be reduced by using tampons intermittently during menstruation. Overnight, information technology is appropriate to employ a pad
  • have special intendance with personal hygiene during menstruation. Bathe or shower daily
  • launder your hands earlier as well as after inserting a tampon. Unwrap a fresh, clean tampon merely earlier insertion and do not handle it more than is necessary. Discard whatsoever tampons you may have unwrapped and non used immediately. Insert the tampon gently and carefully
  • use the everyman absorbency tampon necessary
  • do not exit the tampon in for a prolonged elapsing. Change the tampon as directed by the manufacturer'southward instructions
  • never insert more than one tampon at a time
  • remove tampons at the stop of a period.

Useful links

  • Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)