Toxic shock syndrome secondary to a dental abscess

A 9-year-old girl presented with arthralgia and myalgia which progressed to developing renal failure and ovenwhelming septic shock. The underlying cau se was assumed to be a periodontal abscess from an upper right deciduous ca nine tooth. The pus from the abscess grew a toxic shock syndrome toxin 1-pr oducing Staphylococcus aureus. This case illustrates the importance of an o ral surgical review of patients presenting with features of toxic shock syn drome if the source of the infection is not immediately obvious.