FATAL GROUP A STREPTOCOCCAL TOXIC SHOCK-LIKE SYNDROME IN A CHILD WITH VARICELLA: REPORT OF THE FIRST WELL DOCUMENTED CASE WITH DETECTION OF THE GENETIC SEQUENCES THAT CODE FOR EXOTOXINS SPE A AND B, IN SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

• Main Authors: Jaques SZTAJNBOK, Marguerite LOVGREN, Maria Cristina C. BRANDILEONE, Paulo C.F. MAROTTO, James A. TALBOT, Antonio C. SEGURO
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo (USP) 1999
• Subjects: Group A streptococcus; Toxic shock syndrome; Necrotizing fasciitis; Varicella; Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin; Clindamycin; Child; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/d9aa01730d254662937cee80b2f7eab2

A previously healthy seven-year-old boy was admitted to the intensive care unit because of toxaemia associated with varicella. He rapidly developed shock and multisystem organ failure associated with the appearance of a deep-seated soft tissue infection and, despite aggressive treatment, died on hospital day 4. An M-non-typable, spe A and spe B positive Group A Streptococcus was cultured from a deep soft tissue aspirate. The criteria for defining Streptococcal toxic shock-like syndrome were fulfilled. The authors discuss the clinical and pathophysiological aspects of this disease as well as some unusual clinical findings related to this case.