TSS Life-threatening Toxic Shock Syndrome - Young patient dies from a tampon

Toxic shock syndrome threatens with forgotten tampon

It's been a year since Sara Manitoski died on a school trip to Toxic Shock Syndrome. Now an autopsy showed that the suspicion was confirmed. Guilt was lack of hygiene, because the tampon was not changed in time. Women should pay attention to this when using a tampon.

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). However, other experts doubt that the hygiene articles are actually at fault. After all, men and children can also get sick.

Serious damage to health due to tampon

About six years ago, former Vogue model Lauren Wasser was found lying face down on the bedroom floor. She was taken to hospital with a very high fever. Her organs were about to fail. In addition, she had suffered a serious heart attack. The doctors attempted to re-activate their limbs with an oxygen therapy because gangrene had stopped their blood circulation to the hands and feet. The patient was put into an artificial coma. Her right leg had to be amputated from the knee down. Cause was a tampon - was it then. But some experts doubt this connection in the meantime.

Model loses second leg

For the US model her life changed abruptly after she suffered in 2012 because of a tampon a life-threatening toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Only barely could their lives be saved. In addition, the amputation of her right leg was required.

A few weeks ago it was reported that she lost her second leg due to long-term consequences. Her TSS was attributed to a tampon that had been in the sheath for too long.

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

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

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 two and a half years ago.

Criticism of tampon manufacturers

Lauren Wasser had stated in a previous interview with the magazine "Vice" that she would never have used a tampon if she had fully understood the risk of the TSS.

It blames the wrong tampon material and lack of education on the fact that every year thousands of women suffer TSS.

"The problem has been known for 30 years. At that time there was a real TSS epidemic in the country, and many processes. But the hygiene industry did not do anything about it, "claims her lawyer Hunter J. Shkolnik in 2015.

According to some experts, tampons made of 100 percent cotton would represent a significantly lower risk. However, the majority of producers - including those in Germany - use a mix of viscose fiber and cotton, or pure viscose.

However, other experts consider the criticism of the hygiene article manufacturers inappropriate.

Even children and men can get sick

For example, the gynecologists' association (Berufsverband der Frauenärzte, BVF) on the gynecological network web portal points out that the risk of developing a toxic shock syndrome (TSS) through the use of tampons is extremely low.

"Toxic shock syndrome is more common than menstrual. In addition, it affects more children and men than women, "write the doctors.

"The disease is therefore not limited to menstruating women, but can occur in virtually all life situations and in various clinical pictures (including abscesses, nose and sinus disease, skin and mucous membrane infections, burns, influenza, etc.)," ​​it continues.

According to the experts, there are only a few cases from the past, in which the disease was also associated with the use of tampons.

Related to menstruation

Prof. Werner Mendling, head of the German Center for Infections in Gynecology and Obstetrics in Wuppertal, also commented critically.

"In fact, girls and women between the ages of 10 and 50, and especially teenagers, are the most likely to suffer a toxic shock syndrome. This finding suggests that there is a connection with menstruation, "says the expert. However, this relationship still needs to be explored.

"In the 1980s, there were numerous TSS cases in the US after Procter & Gamble launched a tampon with a superabsorbent plastic absorbent mass," explained Mendling.

The infection was described for the first time and got the nickname "tampon disease". However, the super-absorbent products were quickly gone from the market again.

Since then, the recommendation that always the smallest possible tampon size should be chosen and changed as often as possible, said BVF President Christian Albring.

It is not yet known how long it takes until the dangerous germs in the vagina are so numerous that it leads to a blood infection. "In general, hygiene products such as tampons should remain overnight for a maximum of eight hours in the body," said the gynecologist.

Menstrual bandages are generally associated with lower risk with respect to TSS. Women who prefer tampons should always pay attention to clean hands and undamaged packaging of the products. (Sb)