Toxic shock syndrome is a term used to describe the effects of a reaction to a toxin that is mostly caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus. This condition is seen most commonly in women who use highly absorbent tampons. The infection affects 2 out of every 100,000 people, and can be aggravated by factors such as recent childbirth, surgery, menstruation and whether or not there have been prior staphylococcus aureus infections. Symptoms The condition is of sudden onset, and is accompanied by symptoms such as:
High fever
Chills
Watery diarrhoea
Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Rash
Delirium
Other symptoms may include: muscle pain, conjunctivitis, sore throat and confusion. In a majority of cases, the condition can be cleared up without any further complications, though some can be fatal. CausesThis condition is seen in many women who use highly absorbent tampons. The synthetic material from which the tampons are made, is broken down by bacteria in the vagina, leading to the production of glucose which encourages the growth of bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus. As a result, the bacteria produce toxins that can cause problems in the body of the individual. TreatmentAntibiotics may be prescribed to treat the bacterial infection, but certain cases may require hospitalisation. Women can help prevent toxic shock syndrome by using tampons that are less absorbing, and ensuring that they change their tampons every 3-4 hours to help maintain the natural environment of the vagina. Dr. A. Bose September 2002