Toxic shock syndrome is a rare but life-threatening condition which is caused by the toxins released by bacteria. Let’s find how this bacteria enters the body and how severe the syndrome is.
Toxic shock syndrome or TSS is a condition which is caused due to the toxins released by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pyogenes. This bacterial infection is rare but it can take you to life-threatening consequences. Its symptoms appear very suddenly and soon become fatal. Hence, it is very important to properly understand about this syndrome and how can it be prevented.
Causes
Toxic shock syndrome is caused due to the toxins released by bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is considered to be responsible for the bacterial infection, but in some cases Staphylococcus pyogenes bacteria is also found causing this syndrome. Following point will tell you how these bacteria enter our body.
- The major reason behind this condition are the tampons. Doctors and researches do not have any solid reason behind this, but yes, they cause TSS. Some believe that it is caused due to the super absorbent tampons which are kept for a longer period of time. This gives chance to the bacteria to grow, flourish, and enter the body through the vagina. The other reason can be the tampon fibers, which due to continuous friction, can cause scratches which allow the bacteria to enter the blood. This is the reason why women suffer from this syndrome more than men.
- It is not that it can happen only to women who are in their menstrual age, and only because of tampons, but it can also be caused due to a contraceptive sponge or birth control methods.
- Men, children and even older women, may also get this disease through staph infection. In such cases, it happens due to the skin wounds and surgeries.
Symptoms and Treatment
The symptoms of this bacterial infection are observed very suddenly and very soon become fatal. Hence, they require immediate treatment. Some of the common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, low blood pressure, confusion, sudden high fever, headache, muscle aches, etc. You may also notice rashes in the palms and soles, which may further lead to skin peeling. Redness of the eyes, mouth and throat, can also be observed. As soon as you observe these symptoms, contact the doctor immediately.
Specially if you are going through your menstruation or have recently completed it. Doctor will advice you some tests which will determine the type of bacteria which is responsible for the infection. The treatment will be started as soon as the syndrome is confirmed. It will involve many strong antibiotics. The patient may be kept under oxygen therapy. Apart from this, every organ will be monitored so as to avoid the damage of organs like the liver and kidneys. The person will be hospitalized till the TSS is cured properly.
You need to take proper precautions in order to avoid this syndrome. Try to change the tampons every 6 to 7 hours. When the flow is less, try to use sanitary pads instead of tampons. If you observe any skin wound, clean it properly and take care of it with proper hygiene. Those people who had this infection once are recommended not to use tampons at all.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
