A young, healthy woman was rushed to the hospital with a high fever, hypotension, and shock. She had not been feeling well that day, but her condition progressively worsened throughout the day. She was feeling fine until a couple of days after she started menstruating. What condition could this woman be exhibiting?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms of high fever, hypotension, and shock, along with a recent menstrual period, suggest toxic shock syndrome (TSS), which is caused by certain types of bacteria, most commonly associated with tampon use during menstruation. Scalded skin syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis are severe skin reactions often caused by medication or infections. Food poisoning can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps, but would not typically cause the combination of symptoms described in this scenario.

A Young, Healthy Woman Was Rushed to the Hospital with a High