Learn about Toxic Shock Syndrome

Toxic Shock Syndrome, also known as the TSS follow-up, is a rare disease, but if not diagnosed early and treated properly, it can become fatal. It was discovered in the 1980s in the US, but to this day it is not fully understood by medicine. It is not a contagious disease, but anyone can be affected.

It is an infection caused by different bacteria, the most common being Staphylococcus aureus. It is present in some regions of the body such as the nose, armpits and vagina and develops through mucous membrane wounds. When the toxins produced by these bacteria are released into the body and enter the bloodstream in large quantities, they cause serious damage.

During the late 1970s, an outbreak of the infection affected a large number of people, mostly menstruating women and young women who used tampons. Back then, they were made with chemicals capable of absorbing the flux for long periods. This meant that for many years the disease was associated with the use of these absorbents.

Doctors and researchers have not reached any decisive conclusion about the occurrence, but the fact is that when using tampons, women go a longer time without changing them, especially on days when the flow is no longer so intense, a fact that favors the proliferation and a considerable increase of bacteria inside the vagina, among them, the one responsible for TSS. Another factor that favors the association of the use of tampons with the disease is that, according to doctors, some sanitary pads can cause microscopic wounds in the vagina, through which infection to the blood occurs.

Although they are rare, the highest incidence of cases (almost half) still correspond to the prolonged use of tampons, but the other half of the cases, which affect men, children, menopausal women and women who do not use tampons, originate from in infections caused by burns, surgery and insect bites.

Symptoms appear suddenly and can progress quickly. The most common are malaise, fever above 39 degrees, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, sore throat, dizziness with or without fainting, muscle pain, spots on the hands and feet, skin irritation similar to a burn, between others.

Currently, most manufacturers of tampons no longer use chemicals to contain the fluxes for a long time, they have returned to using cotton fibers, even so, their prolonged use is not recommended by doctors, especially those indicated as super absorbents, that should not be used.

Measures such as avoiding sleeping with the tampon, alternating its use with tampons, not using it for periods longer than 4 hours, under no circumstances leaving it on for more than 8 hours and choosing a low absorbency tampon can help to minimize the risks of contracting the disease, in addition, redouble attention to hygiene after suffering cuts, surgeries or any other types of injuries.

There is no specific test to diagnose the disease, but through the collection of blood and urine, the presence of bacteria or others that have similar symptoms is verified. Once the problem is diagnosed, treatment may require hospitalization and administration of antibiotics to fight the causing bacteria. After that, other treatments help to stabilize the body, stabilize blood pressure, and prevent dehydration. As the kidneys can also be affected, in some cases they can fail making kidney dialysis sessions essential.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so if you use tampons and suddenly notice these symptoms during or after your period, remove it immediately, see your doctor and talk about your suspicion. Early diagnosis, in most cases, can be decisive for the patient’s life. Take care of yourself.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only. They do not replace the advice and follow-up of doctors, nutritionists, psychologists, physical education professionals and other specialists.