Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a serious, life-threatening disease caused by bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus and less typically, Streptococcus pyrogenes. Common causes of skin and mucous membrane infections, some strains of Staph. aureus and Strep. pyrogenes secrete toxins that initiate a cascade of immune reactions. These immune reactions lead to overproduction of immune proteins, and the abnormally high production of these proteins leads to TSS. As its name implies, the most prominent symptom of TSS is shock. During shock, the blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels. If TSS is not quickly diagnosed and treated with antibiotics, it can be fatal.