Toxic Shock Syndrome Symptoms are similar to symptoms of a flu that is high fever, chills and general ill feeling. This makes the diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome difficult. TSS, is a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcal pyogenes, group ‘A’ bacteria or Staphylococcal aureus bacteria.
Streptococcal is the same bacterium that causes Strep throat. Common staph infections include illness like blood infection caused due to septicemia, pneumonia, common skin or surgical wound infection, or bone infection that is caused by osteomyetitis. Research suggests, TSS can be contracted through cuts, wounds, scrapes, infected chicken pox boils, menstruation, nasal packing’s, childbirth, tampon use and frequent use of diaphragm contraceptives.
Although TSS is rare and symptoms may initially appear to be flu like later, they may develop into serious condition. Usually a patient who contracts TSS develops other toxic shock syndrome symptoms rapidly after the preliminary on set. If symptoms like skin rash that looks like sunburn, low blood pressure ( Other Toxic shock syndrome symptoms
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Redness of mouth, eyes and throat
• Multi organ failure (particularly kidney)
• Dizziness
• Cough
• Abdominal pain
• Fainting
• Sore throat
• Skin rash (This is particularly dangerous. A TSS patient usually gets red colored rash all over their body. This rash looks like skin burn but unlike boils does not rise but appears to be flat. If the rash is pressed, it will turn white in color. After a few days, skin will start to dry and peel off. This occurs mostly on the palms and soles and takes place after one or two weeks from the onset of the rash.)
How do these symptoms develop?
TSS symptoms are mostly related to blood infection. The Streptococcal or Staphylococcal bacterium contaminates the blood stream, which eventually leads to development of other medical issues. Several people carry streptococcal bacteria in their throat or skin and Staphylococcal bacteria thrives in nose and skin. They are usually harmless unless triggered by a secondary infection caused due to various reasons listed above.
TSS infection usually begins when a super antigen toxin attaches MHC II molecules in the body with T cell receptors. This process circumvents normal antigen processing mechanism and outcome is unwarranted T cell production. They form a chain structure, travel through the blood stream and over stimulate the immune system eventually leading to multi organ failure and destruction of tissues. Staphylococcus aureus exotoxins causes majority of menstrual TSS cases (particularly related to tampon usage) and non-menstrual TSS cases. Others cases are result of staphylococcal enterotoxin B or enterotoxins A, C, D and E.
Severe Toxic shock syndrome symptoms may lead to serious conditions
Apart from the above serious but not life threatening symptoms, serious symptoms like multi organ failure may lead to critical conditions like oral, conjunctival or vaginal mucous membrane hyperemia. This means a particular part of the body would experience a sudden surge in the blood levels.
Hepatic inflammation (pertaining to liver)
TSS can also cause major renal failure if the serum creatinine levels increase by two times than its normal count. If the platelet count is less than 100,000/mm3 (cube), it will result in Thrombocytopenia.
Severe invasive streptococcal infections may lead to contracting spontaneous gangrenous myositis or necrotizing fasciitis.
Toxic shock syndrome symptoms can be life threatening and can turn fatal within no time. TSS patients require immediate intensive care. Therefore, it is important not to ignore the symptoms and avail proper treatment immediately.