Wisdom Teeth

Answer to Mystery Diagnosis #3:

Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a toxin-mediated acute life-threatening illness that is caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes.  

TSS was first discovered in 1978 and was originally liked to the use of tampons.  However, 50% of TSS cases are not associated with tampon use.  Other cases of TSS can include the bacterium invading areas of injured skin (such as cuts and scrapes), burns, and surgical sites.   

Signs and Symptoms:

·         High fever

·         Rash that resembles a sun burn

·         Desquamation (skin peeling)

·         Hypotension

·         Multi-organ failure (involving 3 or more organ systems)

·         Myalgia (muscle pain)

·         Vomiting

·         Diarrhea

·         Headache

To detect TSS:

·         Blood cultures may be positive for Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes growth

·         Usually diagnosed based on signs and symptoms

Treatment

·         Antibiotics

·         Dialysis (if kidney problems occur)

·         Fluids intravenously

·         Blood pressure medications

·         Removal of foreign materials (such as tampons or nasal packing)

·         Site of infection will be drained

TSS is a rare; however, it can fatal in up to 50% of cases.  In order to prevent TSS; wash your hands often, use a clean bandage for skin wounds, avoid tampons or change tampons frequently.   

My cousin obtained TSS by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes.  Streptococcus pyogenes is the strain of bacteria that causes strep throat.  My cousin was not aware that she was sick with strep throat when she had her wisdom teeth removed.  During her surgery, the S.pyogenes bacteria traveled into her surgical sites in her mouth and then infected her blood stream.  And that is how she became infected with TSS. 

References:

Larissa, Hirsch. "Toxic Shock Syndrome." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Jan. 2011. Web.17 Oct. 2011.  <http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/skin/toxic_shock.html>.

"Toxic Shock Syndrome - PubMed Health." PubMed Health. 11 Sept. 2010. Web.17 Oct. 2011.                 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001676/>.

Venkataraman, Ramesh, and Michael R. Pinsky. "Toxic Shock Syndrome." Medscape. 16 July 2010. Web. 17 Oct. 2011. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/169177- overview>.