Toxic shock syndrome. Possible confusion with Kawasaki's disease.

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a recently recognized condition associated with toxin-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Patients affected with this syndrome are frequently young and have multisystemic complaints such as fever, headache, edema, myalgia, scarlatiniform rash, conjunctival injection, confusion, diarrhea, oliguria, hypotension and shock, This is followed by desquamation of the skin, especially the palms and soles. The majority of cases reported have been in menstruating women who used vaginal tampons regularly. Because similarities exist between toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki's disease (mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome), as well as other conditions, proper diagnosis and management are of the utmost importance.