Anatom3D
ENCZDE
Download

Toxic shock syndrome

Syndroma shock toxici · Syndrom toxického šoku

What it is

Toxins from Staphylococcus aureus or Group A streptococcus switch on the immune system all at once, causing fever, rash, collapsing blood pressure and organ failure within hours; linked to tampons, wounds, burns and nasal packing.

Symptoms & signs

  • Sudden high fever
  • sunburn-like rash, later peeling of palms and soles
  • vomiting, diarrhoea
  • low blood pressure, dizziness, confusion
  • red eyes, mouth and vagina
  • muscle pain

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now High fever with a sunburn-like rash
  • call 112 / 911 now Dizziness, fainting or confusion with fever
  • call 112 / 911 now Fever and vomiting or diarrhoea while using a tampon or with a wound

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Remove the source — tampon, packing, drain the wound
  • intravenous fluids and intensive care
  • Antibiotics with clindamycin added to stop toxin production trials support
  • intravenous immunoglobulin in severe streptococcal cases — trials small
  • surgery for necrotising infection

Natural & lifestyle

  • Change tampons every 4–8 hours, lowest absorbency needed
  • no tampon or menstrual cup overnight past the recommended time
  • wound hygiene

Emerging & experimental

  • Antitoxin antibodies
  • vaccines against staphylococcal toxins

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Natural or 'organic' tampons prevent it — cotton and rayon tampons carry the same risk in laboratory tests not confirmed in trials
  • Homeopathy — no role in an emergency anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes