Toxic Shock Syndrome - Diagnosis



Any woman who is wearing a tampon and experiences the described symptoms should remove the tampon at once seek medical advice.

Toxic shock syndrome first came to public attention in the 1970s when thousands of young women began to go to emergency rooms with a common set of symptoms. The majority of the women were using a new type of tampon called a super-absorbent tampon. (Reproduced by permission of AP/Wide World Photos)
Toxic shock syndrome first came to public attention in the 1970s when thousands of young women began to go to emergency rooms with a common set of symptoms. The majority of the women were using a new type of tampon called a super-absorbent tampon. (Reproduced by permission of
AP/Wide World Photos
)

In diagnosing TSS, the first step taken by a doctor may be ruling out other diseases. For example, an examination of the vagina may be needed to rule out sexually transmitted diseases (see sexually transmitted diseases entry). Blood tests or a vaginal smear can then determine the presence of the bacteria that cause either TSS or STSS. In a vaginal smear, a small amount of vaginal fluids is removed with a cotton swab. The fluid can then be examined under a microscope to determine if the bacteria that cause TSS and STSS are present.

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