A seriously ill Connecticut woman is being treated for the same life-threatening flesh-eating infection that is plaguing Japan.
The American patient was admitted to a local hospital with symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate and low blood pressure.
Subsequent medical scans revealed the patient had fluid in his lungs and was in respiratory and kidney failure.
Doctors claim the woman’s illness was caused by Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS), a deadly bacterial infection that has killed 77 people in Japan this year alone.
After three days in intensive care, the woman stopped urinating and one of her toes turned black and developed necrosis.
The case report was published in the journal Cureus.
Doctors believe the patient, who has asthma, contracted STSS by inhaling infected droplets in the air. Prior to his hospitalization, several members of his family had been diagnosed with strep throat. This common illness, characterized by a sore throat and discomfort when swallowing, is caused by a bacterium called group A streptococcus (group A streptococcus).
Most group A streptococcal infections cause a mild illness such as strep throat, but if the bacteria spreads to the blood or deeper tissues, it can lead to the development of STSS, which is fatal in 30% of infected patients.
STSS often occurs when bacteria are exposed to an open wound, allowing the bacteria to invade deeper tissues. STSS begins with typical flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever, chills and muscle aches. As it progresses, it can cause a drop in blood pressure and a rapid heart rate, which can lead to organ failure.
As in the Connecticut patient’s case, STSS attacks healthy tissue and eats away at flesh, sometimes necessitating amputation.
The Connecticut patient has completed a course of antibiotics and inpatient rehabilitation, but doctors say the affected toe may still need to be amputated.
Japan has seen a surge in STSS cases, with 1,000 infected and 77 killed this year alone. Experts believe the surge is due to immune debt, a weakened immune system caused by lack of exposure to diverse pathogens.
“Constant exposure to bacteria can boost immunity, but that mechanism was missing during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Dr. Takeshi Kikuchi of Tokyo Women’s Medical University. explanation“So more people are susceptible to infection, which may be one of the reasons for the sudden increase in cases.”
Despite the spate of cases in Japan, experts maintain the number of influenza and COVID-19 cases is far higher.
As Bloomberg reportedJapan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has assured tourists planning to visit Japan that there is no need to cancel or change their travel plans..
Regarding STSS and the United States, experts stress that a surge or spread is unlikely, but urge patients to be vigilant in caring for open wounds and to seek medical attention if they experience any symptoms associated with STSS.