Soccer cleats cause toxic shock syndrome

Yet another reason not to play sports — It can kill you:

Blisters caused by wearing new football boots can lead to a dangerous fever called toxic shock syndrome, a study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) says.

In a paper timed to coincide with the start of the World Cup finals, doctors in Birmingham, central England, report the case of two youngsters who became sick with a fever after friction blisters on their Achilles’ heels, caused by new football boots, became infected.

They suffered from fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhoea and a rash that spread over their torso and arms. The pus in the blisters was found to contain the well-known bacterium Staphylococcus aureus.

Love yourself. Don't play sports!.