Condition Lookup

Start typing to search for a specific condition, or select a specialty to see all of its conditions

Sub-Category:

Other Infectious Emergencies

Number of Conditions: 1

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Category: Infectious Diseases

Sub-category: Other Infectious Emergencies

Symptoms:
sudden high fever; low blood pressure; vomiting; diarrhea; rash resembling sunburn; confusion; seizures; muscle aches; redness of eyes, throat, and mouth; organ failure

Root Cause:
Caused by toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, often associated with tampon use, wound infections, or surgical procedures.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical evaluation based on symptoms, blood cultures, and other laboratory tests to identify the bacterial toxin.

Treatment:
Immediate hospitalization, intravenous fluids to maintain blood pressure, antibiotics to target bacteria, and management of organ dysfunction.

Medications:
Intravenous antibiotics such as clindamycin and vancomycin (antibacterials). IV immunoglobulins may also be used to neutralize toxins.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with an incidence of approximately 1–2 cases per 100,000 population annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prolonged tampon use, post-surgical infections, open wounds, childbirth, or nasal packing.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt treatment; however, untreated cases can be fatal.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Shock, organ failure, amputations due to necrosis, and death.