Toxic shock syndrome caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin B. A report of 2 cases in children.

Two children with osteomyelitis, staphylococcal septicaemia and toxic shock syndrome (TSS) are reported. Both patients presented with fever, shock, scarlatiniform rash and diffuse mucositis. The multi-organ dysfunction which characterizes this syndrome was apparent in both patients, who had jaundice, functional renal impairment, diffuse myalgia and non-localizing neurological signs. One child developed toxic myocarditis and the other thrombocytopenia. Both showed a significant rise in antibody titre to enterotoxin B produced by the offending staphylococci, suggesting that this toxin was responsible for the TSS.