Symptoms:
Sudden onset of the condition: diarrhea, vomiting, headache, confusion, skin rash, and sore throat. There can be rapid deterioration and even death, within 48 hours.

Cause:
Prevention is far better than treatment. Aside from the name, this is an actual disease. Circumstances has permitted staphylococcus in the system, to produce exotoxins faster than the body defenses can eliminate them.

Young women between 13-32 years of age contract 85% of this disease. In their case, the cause is usually the improper use of vaginal tampons. A single one is kept in place more than 4 hours. This produces an ideal environment for rapid staphylococcus growth with terrible consequences.

A less frequent cause is food poisoning (which see), caused by poor food handling.

Treatment:
• Take this person immediately to the emergency room at the hospital. Do not let them make you wait awhile! The person needs fluids and electrolytes by IV, along with penicillin.