WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

toxic shock
    n 1: syndrome resulting from a serious acute (sometimes fatal)
         infection associated with the presence of staphylococcus;
         characterized by fever and diarrhea and nausea and diffuse
         erythema and shock; occurs especially in menstruating women
         using highly absorbent tampons [syn: toxic shock, toxic
         shock syndrome, TSS]