MENSTRUAL TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME

A 15 year old girl presented twice with severe symptoms of multiorgan disease during a period of 4 weeks resulting in intensive care necessa ry to control illness. According to case definition criteria, a toxic shock syndrome was diagnosed on second admission. This could be confir med by proof of TSST-1. Beside antibiotics, no specific treatment was used and complete clinical recovery occured with symptomatic thera py. Discussing the menstrual toxic shock syndrome we point out different aspects of the pathogenesis of the disease including the possible role of tampon use. With regard to the results of several investigators, c linical symptoms of toxic shock syndrome could be the consequence of a n uncontrolled immunologic reaction. Looking at this concept, more eff ektive therapie may be available in the near future.