A dangerous disease is spreading in Japan named STSS, how a bacteria causes death in 48 hours
A deadly disease is spreading rapidly in Japan. This disease is caused by bacteria. This bacteria enters the human body and attacks its tissue and destroys the tissue. If timely treatment is not given, the patient dies within 48 hours of getting affected by the disease. The name of this disease is Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS). More than 900 cases of STSS have been reported in Japan. Apart from Japan, cases of the disease have also been reported in Europe.
What is STSS disease? How does it spread and why does the patient die within 48 hours? Let us know about this from experts
Doctors say that there are many types of bacteria around the world. One of these bacteria is Streptococcus, which infects humans. This bacteria comes from an animal or insect and goes into the human body. This bacteria goes into the blood and tissue and spoils their function. If timely treatment is not given, the patient dies within 48 hours.
How does this disease occur?
Dr. Jugal Kishore, HOD in the Department of Community Medicine at Safdarjung Hospital, explains that STSS bacteria enter the body through a wound or a small cut. This bacteria can be present on a surface which gets into the body through an open wound. In a similar way, the bacteria that causes tetanus also enters the body. However, experts do not know how the bacteria reach the body of about half of the people suffering from STSS. But this is definitely one way of its transmission. There are many examples of such patients in whom the symptoms of this disease develop rapidly after injury. This causes swelling in the body parts and continuous high fever.
However, Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome is not a new disease. Its cases have been reported in Japan before as well. Since it is a disease caused by bacteria, it cannot be completely prevented.
How does death happen in 48 hours?
Resident Dr Ankit Rawat of Delhi’s RML Hospital says that when this bacteria enters the body, the patient gets fever and low BP. The bacteria attacks in such a way that the tissues start dying. This causes any organ of the patient’s body to fail. This bacteria takes only a few hours from entering the body to attacking the tissue. If treatment is not received during this time, the organ fails, which leads to death. This bacteria attacks any organ like heart, kidney and liver. Since it starts dying the tissue, it is called flesh eating bacteria.
Who is at risk?
Like any other disease, the risk of STSS is more in children and the elderly. More cases of this disease are also found in people above 50 years of age. The risk of STSS increases in people with open wounds. This may also include people who have recently undergone surgery or have a viral infection.
What are the symptoms
▪️Sore throat
▪️Swelling in any part of the body
▪️Red and purple spots in the mouth
▪️Enlargement of lymph nodes
How is it identified
There is no specific test to identify STSS. If the patient shows these three symptoms in the infected area, then the doctor takes the patient’s blood sample and does several types of tests. These include low BP and if a person has problems in more than one organ, then it is tested.
How to prevent it
▪️If there is burning sensation around the wound, consult a doctor
▪️Keep washing your hands
▪️Contact a doctor if you have fever
▪️Avoid going to infected areas.
