Toxic shock syndrome in 2 girls with pharyngeal infection and wound infection

In 1981, a 13 year old girl died of her shock lung. She had been admitted with the classical toxic shock syndrome then still unknown to us. Staphylococcus aureus had been cultured from a pharyngeal swab. But even in 1987, it took us 48 hours to correctly diagnose the toxic shock syndrome in a 17 year old girl. The diagnosis became evident when she was found to have a staphylococcus aureus wound infection after a surgical procedure. For pediatricians, it is crucial to know this syndrome well. Not only menstruating girls using tampons, but also quite young children can acquire this disease. Quick diagnosis and prompt institution of the correct therapy can be life saving.