Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxic Shock Syndrome or TSS is an infection caused due to the toxin producing bacteria Staphylococcus aureus or Staphylococcus pyrogens. It occurs very rarely but if occurs is significantly dangerous.

Most people do not develop this syndrome because antibodies for the same are already present inside the body.

TSS may take place through vaginal cavity, pharynx or any open cut or burn on the skin.

Symptoms

Symptoms will be visible soon enough and these include headache, high fever, vomiting, bloodshot eyes and mental confusion. The skin often appears moist, possibly due to discharge from the bacterial multiplication.

Constant pain in muscles, decreased urine output and difficulty in breathing are also observed.

Cause

TSS is mainly associated with use of tampons during menstruation by the women. But it may even occur in children and men.

As far as tampons are concerned, the ones with high absorbance have shown to increase the risk of TSS occurrence. Tampons made of cotton or rayon or both, when kept in the vaginal cavity for long enough provide perfect environment for the strains to multiply.

The aerobic bacteria are able to multiply by gaining oxygen from the tampon inserted into the vaginal cavity and protein nutrition from the periods.

Tampons made of polyester or carboxymethyl cellulose considerably increase the risk and hence are banned.

Experts suggest that women must keep changing the frequency of use of tampons. Sanitary napkins must be used on normal days and tampons must only be used in case of very heavy flow.

Risks Involved

There are certain factors which increase the risk of development of TSS. These factors are surgery (cuts and incisions taking time to heal), delivery of child, keeping tampons for very long hours (more than and use of packs, etc to stop bleeding in certain part of the body.

Use of foreign materials in the vaginal cavities like barriers method of contraception (diaphragms, etc) may cause infection.

Diagnosis and Tests

Pelvic examination of women is done. One common test is to check count of WBC and electrolytes. An elevated WBC count, presence of abnormal electrolytes and liver enzymes, abnormal liver and kidney functioning help in confirmation of TSS.