Toxic Shock Syndrome – Pictures, Symptoms, Signs, Causes, Treatment


What is Toxic Shock Syndrome?

Toxic Shock syndrome is a life threatening and rare disease. The complications and the disease mainly caused by the bacterial infections. The Staphylococcus aureus bacteria often produce the toxin that causes the deadly disease. However, various other Staphylococcus bacteria may cause the same problem. The disease can lead to coma and even multiple organ failures and eventually to death. The disease is considered as one of the fatal illness and requires a high degree of medical attention.

The syndrome can attack men, kids and postmenopausal women upon the bacterial infections. Taking a risk and the impact of the disease into account, it is very important to know and understand about Toxic Shock Syndrome. The disease is caused by the bacteria and slowly affects the body leading to complicated health issues.

Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome

It is very important to understand the symptoms of the disease. A successful treatment is obviously helpful but early awareness can save your life better. The most frequent and common symptoms of the disease are the sudden fever. High fever runs through the body along with severe headache. Apart from it, Blood Pressure can fall down considerably and can cause instability. The vomiting and diarrhea can also be observed. Following are the most common symptoms of the Toxic Shock Syndrome.

  • Muscle Ache
  • Red Eyes and burning sensation
  • High fever and anxiety
  • Seizures
  • Confusion and instability
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Low Blood Pressure

The chance of the deadly disease increases, with few additional health factors. The person having diabetes or Chicken Pox is highly susceptible to the syndrome. Moreover, if you are an alcoholic then the risk factor associated with the Toxic Shock Syndrome becomes larger. It is advisable to note down the symptoms and complications that can help in the phase of treatment.

Signs of Toxic Shock Syndrome

Medically, the signs of the bacteria causing the syndrome are very important to diagnose and treat. Doctors and health expert generally look for the functioning of the kidney and liver as part of early signs of the disease. The effect of the bacteria can be observed on all the organs of the body. However, few of the signs cannot analyse with the physical activity or appearance. In most of the cases, doctors go for a urine test or blood test to understand the signs of the syndrome. However, the entire process of the signs of the Toxic Shock Syndrome depends upon the symptoms and the criticality of it. To establish the early signs, even swabs of cells are required. The required swabs can be obtained from the cells of throat, vagina and cervix. In all of the cases the health experts search for the traces and presence of the Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria. The signs of the Toxic Shock Syndrome can only be found once the maligned bacteria affect the system considerably.

However, another important aspect of signs of Toxic Shock Syndrome are the kidney, liver an heart failure. Yellowing of the skin and presence of Jaundice along with upper abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and sleeplessness shows the impact on the Liver. On the other hands, problems in Urinating, chest pain, frequent hiccups, excessive fatigue and weakness show the signs of Kidney failure. Short of breath, sneezing, cough, loss of appetite and rapid heartbeats show the heart failure problems.

Causes of Toxic Shock Syndrome

The cause of the Toxic Shock Syndrome is not multi-dimensional, and the root cause of the syndrome is considered as the Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria. It generally creates the problem in breathing in lungs that lead to death. The bacteria are responsible for releasing a toxin that is dangerous for human health. The toxin can induce a person to coma and even cause multiorgan failure. The injurious toxin is released in the blood and can be obtained in the urine as well as it secrets and reached the Kidney. Even though, it is mostly associated with the menstruating women, but practically it can affect anyone including men and children. One of the causes that it affects the menstruating women is the superabsorbent tampons. However, by avoiding the superabsorbent tampons, it can be prevented up to some extent. However, the cases with the menstruating women have considerably decreased in the recent times. But surgery, contraceptive sponges, cut in the skin and other infections like flu can also cause the Toxic Shock Syndrome. The most common phenomena of the attack of the bacteria are considered as an invasion and attack of the bacteria through the cuts of the body or any other wound. However, well protected and dresses wounds are not affected by the bacteria.

Treatment of Toxic Shock Syndrome


The treatment of the Toxic Shock Syndrome can become complicated if not diagnosed properly. If you are diagnosed with the syndrome, most probably you would be hospitalized and kept under close observation. At first, the patient might undergo the antibiotic treatment until and unless the source of the syndrome is detected. Medication is provided to control the blood pressure and stabilize the body and also rehydration techniques are followed to provide the body with an adequate amount of water. However, the situation depends upon the criticality of the issue. If the bacteria invade the Kidney causing its failure then, dialysis is carried out. But if the situation becomes very critical, then doctors might carry out surgery. The prime motive of the surgery remains the drainage of the non-living tissues of the body and the removal of the infection from the body as well.


Pictures of Toxic Shock Syndrome:

 Toxic Shock Syndrome images


TSS - Sun burn like rash

Skin rash of TSS

toxic shock syndrome


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