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Toxic Shock Syndrome - Topic Overview
What is toxic shock syndrome?
Toxic shock syndrome
(TSS) is a rare, often life-threatening illness that develops suddenly after an
infection and can rapidly affect several different organ systems, including the
lungs
,
kidneys, and
liver. Since toxic shock syndrome progresses quickly,
immediate medical treatment is needed.
What causes toxic shock syndrome?
Toxic shock syndrome is the rare result of infection by Streptococcus pyogenes (group A strep) or Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria. These bacteria make toxins that cause TSS. These bacteria are common but usually don't cause problems. They can cause infections of the throat or skin that are easy to treat, such as strep throat or impetigo. In rare cases, the toxins enter the bloodstream and cause a severe immune reaction in people whose bodies can't fight these toxins. The body’s reaction causes the symptoms associated with TSS.1
- Strep TSS most often occurs after childbirth, the flu (influenza), chickenpox, surgery, minor skin cuts or wounds, or injuries that cause bruising but may not break the skin.
- Staph TSS most often occurs after prolonged use of a tampon (menstrual TSS) or after a surgical procedure, such as nose surgery using packing bandages (nonmenstrual TSS).
What are the symptoms?
TSS symptoms develop quickly and can become life-threatening within 2 days. First signs of TSS usually include:
- Severe flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches and pains, stomach cramps, a headache, or a sore throat.
- Sudden fever over 102F.
- Vomiting and diarrhea.
- Signs of shock, including low blood pressure and rapid heartbeat, often with lightheadedness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, or restlessness and confusion.
- A rash that looks like a sunburn. The rash can be over several areas of your body or just in specific places such as the armpits or the groin.
- Severe pain at the site of an infection (if a wound or injury to the skin is involved).
- Redness in the nasal passages and inside the mouth.
Other TSS symptoms that may follow include:
- Conjunctivitis (pinkeye).
- Involvement of more than one organ system, most commonly the lungs and kidneys.
- Blood infection (sepsis) that affects the entire body.
- Skin tissue death (necrosis), which occurs early in the syndrome.
- Skin tissue shedding, which occurs during recovery.
Toxic shock symptoms vary slightly depending on the strep or staph bacteria involved.
How is toxic shock syndrome diagnosed?
Because it progresses so quickly, toxic shock syndrome is usually diagnosed and treated based on symptoms and signs of infection without waiting for laboratory results. Additional blood and tissue tests can help identify the type of bacterium causing the infection.
How is it treated?
Emergency treatment often requires intravenous fluid replacement and hospital intensive care, particularly when the body has gone into shock. Further treatment involves antibiotics to kill the bacteria involved, removing any source of infection, and treating any complications. If there are no major complications, most people recover completely in 1 to 2 weeks with antibiotic treatment.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Toxic Shock Syndrome Topics
ENABLEX is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder:
- · having a strong need to go to the bathroom right away (also called "urgency")
- · leaks or wetting accidents (also called "urinary incontinence")
- · having to go to the bathroom too often (also called "urinary frequency")
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
You should not take once-daily ENABLEX if you have certain types of stomach problems, glaucoma, or have trouble emptying your bladder. Side effects of ENBLEX include blurred vision, and more commonly dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Use caution when doing certain activities until you know how ENBALEX affects you.
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
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