What should you know about streptococcal TSS?

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome can develop with a severe soft-tissue or wound infection and may involve sudden fever, marked weakness, dizziness, confusion, vomiting or rapidly worsening pain and redness. Angina more often causes pressure, squeezing or tightness in the chest during exertion, sometimes spreading to the arm, jaw or back. Hypertension usually has no symptoms, so it cannot be diagnosed from chest sensations alone.

Treat possible toxic shock as an emergency: do not wait for a lozenge or home remedy to work, and do not drive yourself if you feel faint or confused. For recurring exertional chest discomfort, arrange medical assessment even if it settles with rest. An ECG may be part of the evaluation. Bring a list of medicines, including blood pressure medication or statin therapy, and mention recent wounds, procedures or infections.

Call emergency services immediately for chest tightness that is severe, persistent or accompanied by breathlessness, sweating, nausea, fainting or pain spreading beyond the chest. Seek emergency care for fever with confusion, collapse, rapidly spreading skin changes, severe pain out of proportion to a wound, or very little urine. Do not wait for all symptoms to appear.

Could this be angina, an infection, or another cause? Do I need an ECG or other tests? Which symptoms should trigger emergency help? Could my current blood pressure medication or statin therapy affect the assessment?