Risk tampon woman was dying due to toxic shock syndrome

Suspected flu in the clinic: mother almost died because of tampon disease

In the US, a 37-year-old woman almost died of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). According to media reports, it took several days for the patient to go to hospital for her complaints and for doctors to diagnose so-called "tampon disease". At first, the woman had assumed that she was suffering from the flu.

American almost died

Regular changing of tampons and pads is part of proper intimate hygiene during menstruation. If tampons remain in the vagina for too long, experts sometimes even threaten life-threatening dangers, such as the so-called toxic shock syndrome (TSS). This illness would have almost cost Aimee Haller Follis the life. According to a report in the British newspaper The Sun, the 37-year-old woman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spent days in hospital for so-called "tampon disease." The patient was in mortal danger. She initially thought she was suffering from a flu.

In the US, a mother of two would have almost died of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). The disease is usually triggered by tampons that remain in the body too long. (Image: Michal Ludwiczak / fotolia.com)

Patients initially thought they were suffering from the flu

The ordeal of the mother of two began in May last year. A few days earlier she had moved with her family.

When she got sick in the middle of the night, the 37-year-old was not particularly worried.

"When I woke up in the middle of the night with a fever, I thought I was exhausted from all the back and forth of moving, so I stayed in bed. I thought I had the flu, because the symptoms were similar to those of a flu, "said Mrs. Follis, according to the" Sun ".

But over the days her condition worsened. "I took over-the-counter antipyretic drugs, but dehydrated more and more," she said. "I was getting weaker and weaker. I could not eat, I started to vomit. I felt worse and worse. "

When she was barely able to stand, she took her husband to Chester County Hospital, West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Extremely high fever and very low blood pressure

In the hospital, the doctors found that the patient had a very high fever around 41 degrees and her blood pressure was dangerously low.

According to Ms. Follis, several tests were performed in the emergency department. "I had an MRI and CT scan, but they could not figure out anything."

She explained, "I had a sharp pain in my whole stomach. I was shaking so much because I was cold, although I was hot and I had a fever. "

After about two hours, a specialist noticed that the infection was in her cervix and she was suffering from a toxic shock syndrome.

Toxic shock syndrome can be fatal

Colloquially, TSS is also referred to as "tampon disease". It is an infectious disease with the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus.

Typical symptoms include high fever, headache, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, skin rash, as well as muscle pain, nausea and diarrhea.

If symptoms occur, it is important to see a doctor quickly.

An infection can lead to severe circulatory and organ failure.

Although the disease is extremely rare with one case per 200,000 inhabitants, it can be fatal, as the case of the 13-year-old Jemma-Louise Roberts from the UK showed.

The Greater Manchester girl died of toxic shock syndrome a few years ago.

A large part of the population has become aware of the illness due to the fall of former Vogue model Lauren Wasser. Years ago she was amputated because of TSS a leg. And just a few weeks ago it was reported that she lost her second leg because of late effects.

Bacteria often enter the body via tampons

Although the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus can theoretically penetrate through any wound in the body, but often reach the pathogen according to experts on tampons in the organism, especially if they remain too long in the body.

However, Ms. Follis does not believe in hindsight that it was because she had forgotten a tampon, but that a fiber from the tampon caused the infection.

The patient was taken to the intensive care unit, where she was treated with antibiotics and medication to reduce blood pressure.

"I was in the intensive care unit for five days and got the maximum amount of blood pressure medication you can get. I was fed liquid, had a catheter and wore diapers. I could not go, "says Follis.

In addition, she had problems breathing and was artificially ventilated.

Illness has had a lasting effect

A few days later, she was released from the clinic. But she did not get very well. The illness had a lasting effect.

The woman lost about half of her hair and suffered a miscarriage, which links her to the toxic shock syndrome. In addition, she lost muscle strength and had a temporary vision loss.

During her martyrdom, she had a kind of near-death experience: "I saw a white light in the distance, in the upper left corner," said Follis of the "Sun".

She "saw" her closest relatives. "No one spoke to me, but everyone smiled and had a white light behind them. They were all there together. It was a very calming experience. I was so happy to see her. I knew they were there. I knew where they came from, but I did not want to go there. "(Ad)