Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) - Better Health Channel

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare and potentially life-threatening illness that is thought to be caused by infection with certain types of bacteria. · Women ... SkiptomaincontentInfectionsHomeInfectionsToxicshocksyndrome(TSS)ActionsforthispageListen Print SummaryReadthefullfactsheetToxicshocksyndrome(TSS)isarareandpotentiallylife-threateningillnessthatisthoughttobecausedbyinfectionwithcertaintypesofbacteria.Womenwhohavetheirperiod(aremenstruating)aremostatriskofgettingTSS,asitisthoughttobeassociatedwithtamponuse.SuggestionsforreducingtheriskofTSSincludechangingtamponsregularlyandusingpadsinsteadoftamponsovernight.OnthispageSymptomsoftoxicshocksyndromeTSSandrisksoftamponuseTreatmentfortoxicshocksyndromeReducingtheriskoftoxicshocksyndromeWheretogethelpThingstorememberToxicshocksyndrome(TSS)isarareandpotentiallylife-threateningillnessthatisthoughttobecausedbyinfectionwithcertaintypesofbacteria,includingStaphylococcusaureusandStreptococcuspyogenes.Womenwhohavetheirperiod(aremenstruating)aremostlikelytogetTSS,asitisthoughttobeassociatedwithtamponuse.Theunderlyingmechanismsarenotfullyunderstood,butonetheoryisthatthebacterianaturallypresentinthevaginacanover-growinthepresenceofablood-soakedtampon.However,onethirdofwomenwhogetTSSwhentheyhavetheirperiodarefoundtohavenocausativebacteriaintheirvaginas.TSScanoccasionallydevelopasacomplicationaftersurgeryorchildbirth.Afewcasesofthesyndromehavebeenreportedinmenwhowerealsofoundtohavestaphylococcalinfectionsoftheskin.SymptomsoftoxicshocksyndromeThesymptomsofTSSinclude:fevervomitingdiarrhoeaaskinrashthatlookslikesunburnpeelingpatchesofskinonthefeetandhandsmuscularachesheadachesasorethroatredeyesconfusionadropinbloodpressurejointpainssensitivitytolightkidneyfailurecollapse.TSSandrisksoftamponuseItisthetoxinmadebythebacteriathatcausesTSS,ratherthantheactualpresenceofthebacteria.Staphylococcusaureusisacommontypeofbacteriumthatlivesontheskinandinsidethenose.Inmostcasesitisharmless,butitcancauseawiderangeofinfectionsifitentersthebloodstream.ForTSStooccur,theseparticulartypesofbacteriamustfirstover-growandmakelargeamountsoftheTSStoxin,whichthenentersthebloodstream.TamponscanincreasetheriskofTSSintwoways,including:Tampons(especiallysuper-absorbentvarieties)thatareleftinthevaginaforalongtimemayencouragethebacteriatogrow.Tamponscansticktothevaginalwalls,especiallywhenbloodflowislight,causingtinyabrasionswhentheyareremoved.TreatmentfortoxicshocksyndromeIfyouthinkyoucouldhavetoxicshocksyndrome,stopusingtamponsimmediatelyandgototheemergencydepartmentofyournearesthospital.TreatmentforTSSincludes:astayinhospitalmedication(antibiotics)tokilltheinfectionfluidsgiventhroughadrip(intravenously)toincreasebloodpressureandtreatdehydrationmedicaltreatmentforanycomplications,suchaskidneyfailure.ReducingtheriskoftoxicshocksyndromeGiventhenumberofwomenworldwidewhoregularlyusetampons,TSSisaveryrarecondition.Suggestionstoreducetheriskinclude:Changetamponsregularly(atleasteveryfourhours).Avoidusingsuper-absorbenttampons.Onlyunwrapthetamponifyouaregoingtouseitimmediately.Donothandlethetamponmorethanyouneedto.Washyourhandsthoroughlybeforeandafterinsertingthetampon.Begentlewheninsertingandremovingtampons.Avoidapplicatortampons,astheapplicatormayscrapethevaginalwalls.Usepads(sanitarynapkins)insteadoftamponsovernight.Maintainpersonalhygieneduringyourperiod.Donotweartamponswhenyoudonothaveyourperiod.Considerusingpadsorpantylinersduringthelastdayorsoofyourperiodwhenyourflowislight.Usealubricatingjellywheninsertingtamponsinthelastdayorsoofyourperiodwhenyourflowislight.TherearenoclinicaltrialssupportingtheuseofmenstrualcupstoreducetheriskofTSS.WheretogethelpInanemergency,alwayscallanambulancebydiallingtriplezero(000)YourdoctorEmergencydepartmentofyournearesthospitalThingstorememberToxicshocksyndrome(TSS)isarareandpotentiallylife-threateningillnessthatisthoughttobecausedbyinfectionwithcertaintypesofbacteria.Womenwhohavetheirperiod(aremenstruating)aremostatriskofgettingTSS,asitisthoughttobeassociatedwithtamponuse.SuggestionsforreducingtheriskofTSSincludechangingtamponsregularlyandusingpadsinsteadoftamponsovernight.Toxicshocksyndrome(TSS),SAHealthCommunicableDiseaseControlBranch-SouthAustralianGovernment.Moreinformationhere. Thispagehasbeenproducedinconsultationwithandapproved by: Thispagehasbeenproducedinconsultationwithandapproved by: GivefeedbackaboutthispageWasthispagehelpful?YesNoViewallinfectionsMoreinformationRelatedinformationAndrogendeficiencyinwomen Androgendeficiencyinwomenanditstreatmentiscontroversial,andmoreresearchisneeded. Anthrax Anthraxisararebutpotentiallyfatalbacterialdiseasethatoccasionallyinfectshumans. Antibacterialcleaningproducts TheWesternobsessionwithcleanlinessmaybepartlyresponsiblefortheincreaseinallergicasthmaandconditionssuchasrhinitis. Antibioticresistantbacteria Carefulprescribingofantibioticswillminimisetheemergenceofantibioticresistantstrainsofbacteria. Aspergillus Aspergillusisafungusthatcommonlygrowsonrottingvegetation.Itcancauseasthmasymptoms. FromotherwebsitesMedlinePlus. Thispagehasbeenproducedinconsultationwithandapproved by: ContentdisclaimerContentonthiswebsiteisprovidedforinformationpurposesonly.Informationaboutatherapy,service,productortreatmentdoesnotinanywayendorseorsupportsuchtherapy,service,productortreatmentandisnotintendedtoreplaceadvicefromyourdoctororotherregisteredhealthprofessional.Theinformationandmaterialscontainedonthiswebsitearenotintendedtoconstituteacomprehensiveguideconcerningallaspectsofthetherapy,productortreatmentdescribedonthewebsite.Allusersareurgedtoalwaysseekadvicefromaregisteredhealthcareprofessionalfordiagnosisandanswerstotheirmedicalquestionsandtoascertainwhethertheparticulartherapy,service,productortreatmentdescribedonthewebsiteissuitableintheircircumstances.TheStateofVictoriaandtheDepartmentofHealth shallnotbearanyliabilityforreliancebyanyuseronthematerialscontainedonthiswebsite. Reviewedon:30-04-2014