Toxic shock syndrome

Toxic shock syndrome
A grave condition occurring predominantly in menstruating women using tampons, toxic shock is characterized by a highly toxic state (with sudden high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aching) followed by low blood pressure (hypotension) which can lead to shock (and death). There may be a rash resembling sunburn with peeling of skin. The Channing Laboratory in Boston under Dr. Edw. Kass discovered that toxic shock was due to a toxin produced by Staph (Staphylococcus) aureus bacteria growing under conditions with little or no oxygen. The syndrome occurs rarely in women not using tampons and in men.

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toxic shock syndrome n an acute and sometimes fatal disease that is characterized by fever, nausea, diarrhea, diffuse erythema, and shock, that is associated esp. with the presence of a bacterium of the genus Staphylococcus (S. aureus), and that occurs esp. in menstruating females using tampons called also toxic shock

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a severe illness caused by a bacterial infection, characterized by high fever of sudden onset, vomiting, diarrhea, and myalgia, followed by hypotension and, in severe cases, shock. A sunburnlike rash with peeling of the skin, especially of the palms and soles, occurs during the acute phase. It was originally observed almost exclusively in menstruating women using tampons, with the infective agent being Staphylococcus aureus, but a nearly identical syndrome has subsequently been seen in males and females of different ages infected with group A streptococcus.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • toxic shock syndrome — n. a disease, esp. of young menstruating women using highly absorbent tampons, characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and, often, shock and caused by a toxin releasing bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) …   English World dictionary

  • toxic shock syndrome — toxic shock .syndrome n [U] a serious illness that causes a high temperature and is thought to be connected with the use of ↑tampons …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • toxic shock syndrome — toxic shock ,syndrome noun uncount a serious illness that can be connected to the use of TAMPONS …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • toxic shock syndrome — ► NOUN ▪ acute septicaemia in women, typically caused by bacterial infection from a retained tampon or IUD …   English terms dictionary

  • Toxic shock syndrome — Infobox Disease DiseasesDB = 13187 ICD10 = ICD10|A|48|3|a|30 ICD9 = ICD9|040.82 ICDO = OMIM = eMedicineSubj = med eMedicineTopic = 2292 eMedicine mult = eMedicine2|emerg|600 eMedicine2|derm|425 eMedicine2|ped|2269 MeshID = D012772 Caption = |… …   Wikipedia

  • toxic shock syndrome — noun syndrome resulting from a serious acute (sometimes fatal) infection associated with the presence of staphylococcus; characterized by fever and diarrhea and nausea and diffuse erythema and shock; occurs especially in menstruating women using… …   Useful english dictionary

  • toxic shock syndrome — Pathol. a rapidly developing, sometimes fatal infection characterized by sudden onset of fever, gastrointestinal upsets, a sunburnlike rash, and a drop in blood pressure: caused by a Staphylococcus aureus toxin and occurring esp. in menstruating… …   Universalium

  • toxic shock syndrome — a state of acute shock due to septicaemia. The commonest cause is a retained foreign body (e.g. a tampon or IUCD) combined with the presence of staphylococci (see also streptococcal toxic shock syndrome). The condition can be life threatening if… …   Medical dictionary

  • toxic shock syndrome — a state of acute shock due to septicaemia. The commonest cause is a retained foreign body (e.g. a tampon or IUCD) combined with the presence of staphylococci (see also streptococcal toxic shock syndrome). The condition can be life threatening if… …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • toxic shock syndrome — (tok sik) A staphylococcal disease that most commonly affects females who use certain types of tampons during menstruation. It is associated with the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin by certain strains of Staphylococcus aureus …   Dictionary of microbiology

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