What is toxic shock syndrome?

Answer 1

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but potentially fatal disease caused by a bacterial toxin. Different bacterial toxins may cause Toxic shock syndrome, depending on the situation. The causative agent is Staphylococcus aureus.

This infection can occur via the skin (e.g. cuts, surgery, burns), vagina (via tampon), or pharynx. However, most of the large number of individuals who are exposed to or colonized with toxin-producing strains of S. aureus or S. pyogenes do not develop toxic shock syndrome. One reason is that a large fraction of the population has protective antibodies against the toxins that cause TSS.[1] It is not clear why the antibodies are present in people who have never had the disease.1


1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxic_shock_syndrome

Answer 2

Toxic Shock Syndrome is an illness caused by bacterial toxins - although rare it is still thought to occur in as many as 1 in 700 women, and it is commonly associated with tampon use.

TSS occurs when certain strains of bacteria are allowed to multiply, these bacteria produce TSST-1 toxins and can enter the bloodstream via mucus membranes or damaged tissue, once in the bloodstream if a person lacks immunity to the toxins they can overwhelm the immune system. TSS can lead to major organ failure so can kill, in fact it can kill within just a week.

Tampons are a major cause of TSS because they allow the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply inside the body while preventing the vagina cleaning out those bacteria, tampons also damage vaginal tissues so give toxins direct access to the bloodstream.