Toxic Shock Syndrome Health Article

Diagnosis

Any woman who is wearing a tampon and begins to experience the symptoms of toxic shock syndrome should remove the tampon right away and seek medical care.

The doctor will probably examine the vagina for signs of inflammation and rule out common sexually transmitted diseases with similar symptoms. A variety of blood tests, tests of vaginal secretions, and a physical examination are needed to identify this condition.

TSS

Women who wear tampons should change them often and use different brands and types of pads and tampons. If a woman really prefers tampons, experts recommend using the lowest possible absorbency product made of cotton and rayon, and wearing it only during the day. In the past, it was difficult to compare absorbency rates for different products. Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires standardized absorbency measurements on all tampon boxes. Above all, women should wash their hands before inserting a tampon, and change the tampon every four to six hours.

Anyone who has had TSS even once should not use tampons again.

STSS

Doctors still are not sure how people can avoid STSS, but they advise patients to clean and bandage open wounds immediately. Anyone with a red, swollen, or tender wound, or a sudden fever should seek medical care.

Prognosis

TSS lasts as long as three weeks, and has a tendency to recur. About a third of the women who are treated for TSS have it again within six months. In addition, TSS can affect the liver, kidneys, lungs, and other organs, depending on the severity of the infection. Untreated toxic shock syndrome can be fatal.

BOOKS

Garrett, Laurie. The Coming Plague. New York: Penguin Books, 1994.

Turkington, Carol A. Infectious Disease A to Z. New York: Facts on File, 1998.

PERIODICALS

"CDC defines group A streptococcal toxic shock syndrome." American Family Physician 47, no. 7 (15 May 1993): 1643-1644.

"Toxic Shock Syndrome—United States." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 46, no. 22 (6 June 1997): 492-495.

OTHER

Kids Health Page. <http://KidsHealth.org>.

Carol A. Turkington

KEY TERMS

Shock—A condition in which the amount of blood circulating in the body is inadequate to meet the body's needs. Shock can be caused by certain diseases, serious injury, or blood loss.

Staphylococcus—A genus of bacteria that is commonly found on human skin and mucous membranes.

Streptococcus—A genus of sphere-shaped bacteria that can cause a wide variety of infections.

Toxin—A poisonous protein that is produced by some bacteria. A toxin is less complex than a poison.