Staphylococcus bacteria cause what is commonly known as a staph infection. The Mayo Clinic reports that while this bacteria is commonly present on most people's skin, when it gets inside your body, the infection can become serious. Staphylococcus bacteria can invade you heart, lungs, urinary system and bloodstream. This type of infection can be life-threatening, especially if your immune system is already weakened.
Skin Problems
Staphylococcus bacteria infections of the skin are the most common and least dangerous forms of the disease. The bacteria can present itself as an infection in several ways on your skin. Scalded skin syndrome, for example, typically affects newborn babies. Its symptoms can include blisters, a rash and a fever. The Mayo Clinic states it gets its name from the fact that if the blisters burst, the underlying skin appears burned. Cellulitis produces swollen, red skin, typically in the feet and lower legs. Impetigo is contagious and shows itself through blisters that are large, painful and ooze fluid, primarily near the mouth and nose. Boils are the most common form of this bacterial infection. The boil is pus-filled and may be swollen and red.
Septic Arthritis
This form of arthritis is caused by an infection of staphylococcus bacteria. It can infect your knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips and ankles, among other joints. Symptoms include such problems common to other forms of arthritis as swelling in the joints affected and pain that is severe in those joints. The infection also may cause you to experience chills with shaking and a fever.
Abdominal Symptoms
A staph infection also may occur through food poisoning and from toxic shock syndrome. Both of these infections can cause symptoms in your abdominal region, such as nausea and vomiting. The infection if borne through food also may cause cramps in your abdomen and diarrhea. In most cases, this type of infection will begin and end quickly. Toxic shock syndrome, however, which may occur from using tampons, having surgery and getting a wound on your skin, can be deadly. Other symptoms of this type of infection include a high fever, mental confusion, headaches, seizures, aches in your muscles and a palm rash.
Heart and Lung Symptoms
Another form of staphylococcus bacterial infection is called bacteremia or blood poisoning. It can produce cause serious symptoms such as pneumonia in your lungs that makes it difficult to breathe, and endocarditis, which is an inflammation of the inner part of the lining of your heart. The National Institute of Health states endocarditis can be damaging to the valves of your heart and it can be fatal.
