The symptoms of TSS include fever, vomiting, dizziness, diarrhea, fainting, a sunburn-like rash, muscle aches, sore throat, headache, joint pain, red eyes, and sensitivity to light. As the illness progresses, TSS can also lead to mental confusion, kidney failure, a drop in blood pressure, and collapse. One to two weeks after the initial symptoms, peeling patches of skin on the palms and soles can occur.
These symptoms typically appear during a woman’s period or a few days after. If a woman suspects she has TSS, she should remove her tampon immediately and call her doctor or go to the emergency room for immediate evaluation. Treatment requires hospital admission for intravenous antibiotics to kill the bacteria, intravenous fluids to treat the low blood pressure and dehydration, and observation and treatment for signs of kidney failure. With appropriate treatment, most patients will recover in 2 to 3 weeks.
