toxic shock
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A severe and potentially fatal illness: "toxic shock" refers to a rare but serious medical condition caused by a bacterial infection, typically involving Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
- A specific syndrome: It is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever, a dramatic drop in blood pressure (shock), vomiting, diarrhea, and a sunburn-like rash.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The doctor diagnosed her with toxic shock after she became severely ill.
- Public health campaigns in the 1980s raised awareness about the link between toxic shock and certain tampon use.
Advanced Usage
- "toxic shock syndrome (TSS)": This is the full medical term for the condition. "Toxic shock" is often used as a shortened form.
- Toxic shock syndrome requires immediate emergency medical treatment.
Variants and Related Words
- Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) (n): The formal name for the illness.
- Staphylococcal (adj): Relating to the bacteria that can cause the condition.
- Staphylococcal toxins are responsible for the symptoms.
Synonyms
- Septic shock: A broader term for shock caused by infection, which can share some features but has different specific causes.
- Bacterial toxemia: A condition involving toxins in the blood from bacteria.
Notes on Meaning
The term "toxic shock" is almost exclusively used in a medical context. Its most common association is with the specific syndrome (TSS) that can occur in menstruating individuals, historically linked to the use of super-absorbent tampons. However, it is important to note that toxic shock syndrome can also occur in men, children, and women who are not menstruating, resulting from other types of staph infections (e.g., from wounds or surgery).
Noun
- syndrome resulting from a serious acute (sometimes fatal) infection associated with the presence of staphylococcus; characterized by fever and diarrhea and nausea and diffuse erythema and shock; occurs especially in menstruating women using highly absorbent tampons