Toxic shock syndrome in three adolescent males.
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is associated with a spectrum of Staphylococcus aureus infections and is not just a disease of menstruating females. We report three cases of TSS in adolescent males. In one case the origin of infection was a cauterized wart that did not appear clinically infected. Two cases were associated with bacteremia and had demonstrable acute phase antibody to toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1). One of these patients died. The S. aureus strain from this patient did not produce TSST-1 but did produce enterotoxin D. The historical and clinical features of TSS are reviewed.
Kniffin
W D
WD
Department of Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Hanover, NH 03756.
Smith
R
R
Stashwick
C A
CA
D000293:Adolescent; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D000922:Immunotoxins; D008297:Male; D009513:New Hampshire / Q000453:epidemiology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D000922:Immunotoxins