Thursday, March 28, 2024

Death of Comox Valley teen caused by toxic shock syndrome

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A B.C. Coroner’s Service report confirms that the death of 16-year-old Comox Valley girl, Sara Manitoski, was caused by toxic shock syndrome.

The incident occurred in March 2017, while the eleventh grader was on a school field trip to Hornby Island to participate in the Voyager Program at the Outdoor Education Centre in Tribune Bay Provincial Park.

The report states that the students who shared a cabin with Manitoski left for breakfast in the morning, assuming that she was sleeping in. When they came back, they found her alarm blaring, but she was unresponsive.

After staff, students, and emergency responders were unable to revive her through CPR, she was pronounced dead.

Cause of death

According to the coroner’s report, an autopsy revealed the presence of a strain of staphylococcus aureus on a tampon found in place.

This, as well as several symptoms before and after Manitoski’s death, is consistent with the conclusion that it was caused by toxic shock syndrome.

However the report also notes that tampon use is not the only cause of toxic shock syndrome, but it does increase the risk of contracting the condition.

Coroner Courtney Cote classifies the death as natural, and recommends that her report be reviewed by Health Canada for informational purposes.

More on TSS

According to HealthLinkBC, toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is the result of a rare and serious streptococcal infection. Some of the symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Redness of the skin
  • Shock due to low blood pressure
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Severe muscle pain
  • Death, in severe cases

Besides its link to tampon use, TSS is common in children, older adults, people who have chickenpox, diabetes, chronic heart or lung disease, and people who are dependent on alcohol or inject illicit drugs.

In women who are menstruating and use tampons, these symptoms usually develop within three to five days.

TSS cannot be treated at home, so if you or someone you know is displaying symptoms of the condition, visit your health care provider right away.

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Brishti Basu
Former Senior Staff Writer and Content Manager at Victoria Buzz.

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