SummaryToxic shock syndrome is a recently described entity, probably mediated by a staphylococcal exotoxin. It is usually found in young menstruating women using vaginal tampons. The patient described here presents the classical features of the syndrome including fever, scarlatiniform rash, inflammation of the mucous membranes, hypotension, peripheral signs of shock, myalgia, gastrointestinal symptoms and signs of toxic encephalopathy. Muscle, lung, liver, heart and kidney are involved. Our patient showed renal failure apparently related to renal hypoperfusion. The classically observed hypocalcaemia was associated with high levels of calcitonin. Treatment with chloramphenicol, used as an empirical broad-spectrum agent, resulted in prompt recovery.