Toxic shock syndrome, or TSS, is a rare bacterial infection that can cause death if not treated quickly. With proper treatment, however, people can recover from TSS with minimal effects. Some long-term risks and side effects of having TSS can exist, however.
The Facts
Toxic shock syndrome is caused by one of two bacteria, either Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria or group A streptococcus (strep) bacteria. These bacteria can enter the bloodstream after surgery or through broken skin. Once the bacteria has entered your blood, toxic shock syndrome (TSS) sets in quickly and can be fatal if not immediately treated.
According to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital website, the staph bacteria itself is very common and will not cause TSS in most people. They claim "90 percent of individuals develop antibodies to prevent infection."
For the other 10 percent, or for people who get TSS from strep bacteria, toxic shock syndrome can have some long-term effects or even be fatal.
Identification
The symptoms of TSS will come on quickly and will usually be confirmed by blood or urine tests in the hospital. The most common symptoms of TSS are high fever (higher than 102 degrees), low blood pressure, a flat rash that looks similar to sunburn, difficulty breathing, disorientation and vomiting or diarrhea.
TSS most commonly happens when a person has an open wound, has just had surgery, or has left a tampon in for too long. If one of these applies to you and you begin having unusual, sudden, flu-like symptoms it could be TSS. Get immediate medical attention.
Considerations
Always go immediately to the emergency room if there's a chance you have TSS. Toxic shock syndrome will cause organ failure, particularly kidney failure, in a short amount of time. It can also cause liver and heart failure. TSS is fatal in about half the people who contract it, so immediate medical care is vital.
If treatment is received quickly and a person responds well to antibiotics, recovery should only take two to three weeks in the hospital. Once a person has recovered, there are few if any long-term effects. The only definite long-term effect is the chance of re-infection. Once you've had TSS, it's much more likely you'll have it again.
Misconceptions
Most people only know about the TSS risk with tampons. Women who use tampons are at an increased risk of getting TSS, especially if they don't follow the manufacturer's recommendations for using them. However, TSS can affect all people regardless of age or gender. About half the cases of TSS are in women, and many of those are related to utilizing one tampon for too long. Non-tampon TSS infections generally come from skin wounds, surgery and giving birth. All three of these conditions allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream easily. Once the bacteria is in the bloodstream, staph and strep have an opportunity to grow and TSS can develop.
Warning
Once you've had TSS, you are at a much higher risk of having it again. If you're female, avoid the use of tampons and any vaginal birth control like diaphragms or sponges. If you need to have surgery, or if you're going to have a child, make sure your doctor knows you've had toxic shock syndrome in the past so they can monitor you more closely.
The advice about surgery is true whether you're male or female. Bacteria can easily enter open wounds. Any time you get a burn, deep cut, or other wound, talk to your doctor about keep it clean. Always watch for signs of re-infection; that's the most common danger and long-term effect of TSS.
Tags: shock syndrome, bacteria enter, bacteria enter bloodstream, enter bloodstream, immediate medical, long-term effect