Surgical presentation of toxic shock syndrome

Three infants with clinical features of sepsis, hypovolaemia and an acute abdomen were referred to a paediatric surgical unit. Subsequent clinical signs of diffuse macular erythema followed by desquamation and isolation of Staphylococcus aureus from nasal or umbilical swabs led to a diagnosis of staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome. Surgical intervention was not indicated.