Toxic shock syndrome is a very rare condition. Although toxic shock syndrome can occur in children or in men, more than 90 percent of cases occur in women of childbearing age who use tampons. Symptoms often begin within the first five days of the onset of the menstrual period. They include the sudden onset of high fever, vomiting and watery diarrhea; occasionally, the syndrome may also result in sore throat, muscle aches, headache, a red rash (usually not raised bumps but red discoloration that often peels on the palms and soles as it heals) and sometimes conjunctivitis (pink eye). In severe cases, extremely low blood pressure and heart and kidney failure can occur. Toxic shock syndrome is not technically an infectious disease. Although it occurs because of a specific strain of Staphylococcus bacteria, it is a toxin produced by the bacterium that causes the illness and not the bacteria themselves. Treatment involves replacement of fluids to combat dehydration from the high fever, antibiotics to eradicate the toxin-producing bacteria and removal of the cause of the accumulation of toxin (such as a tampon). One common source of staphylococcal infection that can lead to toxic shock is the improper use of tampons during menstruation. Researchers theorize that superabsorbent tampons provide a breeding ground for the normally harmless bacteria that produce the toxin. For this reason, women who choose to use tampons should be careful to change them frequently, never leaving the same tampon in place for more than eight hours. Last Updated: 9/9/2002
The Johns Hopkins University 1996-2003. All rights reserved. This information is not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor is it intended to be a substitute for consultation.
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