It has also been known to strike newborn babies, children, and males, though the incidence of this is much lower than among women. Women who use tampons during their periods do have a higher risk of getting TSS than those who use sanitary napkins only. These are all fairly general symptoms but, collectively they can tell a medical professional a great deal.
Supportive care is the only intervention for a person with the disease.
In order to receive these treatments, most people are hospitalized so that they may be constantly monitored. Though the symptoms will make a person feel miserable, most TSS cases are not fatal. The majority of TSS fatalities are among people who were exposed to a large amount of the Staph aureus bacteria or who ignored early warning signs and sought initial treatment after the disease had progressed. The most effective way for menstruating women to avoid TSS is not to use tampons at all or use low-absorbency ones for short periods of time. Hand washing before and after using a tampon is also key to preventing the disease.