Toxic shock syndrome
Intro
Toxic shock syndrome can occur in anyone, including men and children, but about half of all cases occur in women during menstruation.
Article
Toxic shock syndrome can occur in anyone, including men and children, but about half of all cases occur in women during menstruation.
Toxic shock syndrome, or TSS, is a rare but very dangerous consequence of using tampons. It develops because bacteria - staphylococci - begin to multiply in the "nutrient medium" consisting of menstrual blood and tampon components. They produce a toxin called TSST-1 (Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin 1) - it is this toxin that causes a life-threatening disorder in which a woman's temperature rises, blood pressure drops, and organs fail.
Symptoms of toxic shock syndrome can appear very quickly and resemble severe flu. They may include:
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Sudden headache.
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Muscle spasms.
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High temperature of 39°C or higher.
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Fever and cold sweats.
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Vomiting or diarrhea.
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Dizziness, weakness, and fainting.
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Rash on the palms and soles.
Remember, not all cases of toxic shock syndrome are exactly the same, and not all these symptoms are always present. If there is a slight chance of any of the above symptoms occurring when using a tampon, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Today, TSS develops in only one out of two million women. However, because of this - albeit very low risk - many are afraid to use tampons, especially at night, or are afraid they will forget to change the tampon in time.
Here are a few ways to reduce the risk of developing toxic shock syndrome:
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Always wash your hands before and after inserting a tampon.
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Remove the tampon wrapper in such a way that you do not touch the tampon itself to avoid contamination.
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Always remove the used tampon before inserting another one.
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It is not recommended to use a tampon at the end of your period because your vagina is dry and you may forget that you are wearing it.
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You should change your tampon at least once every 4 hours. More often if you have heavy bleeding.
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Do not wear tampons overnight. Firstly, they need to be changed every 4 hours, and secondly, when you lie down, gravity cannot pull blood into the tampon as it does when you walk during the day.
