Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS), sometimes known as flesh-eating bacteria, is spreading rapidly and killing people quickly.
Health officials in Japan are on high alert after over 1,000 cases of a fatal virus were reported across the country. Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS), also known as ‘flesh-eating bacteria’, is quickly spreading and killing people.
STSS instances had reached 977 on June 2 of this year. According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, this statistic has already surpassed the 941 instances reported last year.
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What is Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome?
STSS is a rare but serious bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this occurs when germs reach deep tissues and the bloodstream, releasing toxins that produce a quick and severe response in the body. While it is uncommon for someone with STSS to transmit the infection to others directly, less severe group A strep infections can progress to STSS if left untreated.
Symptoms
STSS begins with symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, and vomiting. Within 24 to 48 hours, it can cause low blood pressure, organ failure, rapid heartbeat, and quick breathing.
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) typically causes strep throat in children, but it can also produce significant symptoms in adults such as limb pain, edema, fever, and low blood pressure. This can quickly progress to tissue death, breathing difficulties, organ failure, and, in rare cases, death, particularly in persons over the age of 50.
Early medical attention is critical for treating these severe symptoms and avoiding consequences.
Prevention from flesh-eating bacteria
Preventing STSS requires good hygiene, such as washing your hands frequently and protecting your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Proper wound care is essential, and any signs of infection should be reported to a doctor. This helps to keep the germs from generating more infections, which can occasionally lead to STSS.
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Diagnosis
STSS is diagnosed using a series of testing, including blood tests to detect group A strep germs and assess organ function. A group A strep infection combined with low blood pressure and symptoms of two or more organ failures, such as kidney or liver difficulties, confirms the diagnosis.
Treatment
To treat STSS, powerful antibiotics are used intravenously to destroy the bacterium. Fluids are also given to patients to help them maintain normal blood pressure and organ function.
In severe situations, surgery may be required to remove contaminated tissue and avoid future complications. It is critical to seek treatment as soon as possible in order to increase the likelihood of recovery and reduce the danger of significant complications or death from STSS.
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