Diagnosis
There's no one test for toxic shock syndrome. You may need to give blood and urine samples to test for the presence of a staph or strep infection. Your vagina, cervix and throat may be swabbed for samples to be studied in a lab.
Because toxic shock syndrome can affect more than one organ, your healthcare professional may order other tests to see how the illness affects you. These might include a CT scan, lumbar puncture or chest X-ray.
Treatment
People with toxic shock syndrome most often are treated in a hospital. Treatment often involves:
- Getting a mix of antibiotics while healthcare professionals try to find what's causing the infection.
- Having tampons, diaphragms and other foreign bodies removed. Wounds may be drained or damaged tissue removed.
- Getting medicine to bring up blood pressure if it's low and fluids through a vein if needed.
The toxins staph or strep bacteria make and the hypotension that goes with them may result in kidney failure. If your kidneys fail, you may need dialysis.
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary to remove dead tissue from the site of infection or to drain the infection.
Preparing for your appointment
Toxic shock syndrome most often is diagnosed in an emergency setting. But if you're worried about your risk of toxic shock syndrome, see your healthcare professional to check your risk and talk about ways to prevent the illness.
