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Ending The Myths About TSS

© Nancy Coulter

Toxic Shock Syndrome. Or TSS. Just three little letters, yet they can cause fear in the hearts of women.

When I first started having a regular menstruation cycle, I got a lecture from my mother about TSS. I was warned that if I used a tampon, I could possibly die. To a 11 year old, that can leave a very strong impression. Believe me, it was a long time till I felt safe and comfortable with even the idea of using a tampon. That meant I had to miss many fun filled days at the beach

Women should not feel scared about anything simply because of myths. I didn't know the facts when I was 11, I only knew the myths that I heard around me. Here are the facts that you should know to keep yourself safe from this disease.

What is TSS?

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is a rare but severe disease that is caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus. It is a blood poisoning that will make victims feel severely ill very quickly. The disease is rare, but potentialy serious and life-threatening that can develop quickly in anyone - regardless of age or gender. The most common group of people to develop TSS is menstruating women using highly absorbent tampons. It normally occurs within 5 days of the beginning of a menstrual period.

TSS is not limited to women and has been seen in children, infants, and men. The cause of TSS for these people is normally through skin wounds or infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus elsewhere in the body.

What are the symptoms?

• vomiting or diarrhea
• headache
• fainting or feeling faint
• sudden high fever
• a sunburn like rash, followed by peeling of the skin
  (1-2 weeks after inital onset of the rash)
• chills

These are some other secondary symptoms that may or may not occur if you have TSS.

• muscle pain
• hallucinations
• consciousness, decreased confusion
• sore throat
• dry mouth, vaginal dryness, or dry eyes

How can you prevent it?

Menstruating women should be sure to alternate tampons with sanitary napkins. If you use tampons, it is best to use regular or low absorbency tampons. The use of high absorbency tampons should only be on a limited basis and for a short amount of time. For women who have had Staphylococcus aureus infections, use of tampons should be completely stopped. The recurrence rate for those women is 30%.

What are the treatments?

With early diagnosis, TSS can be treated effectively. It is important that you contact your doctor as soon as you suspect that you have TSS. It is a potentially life-threatening infection that should not be taken lightly. The fact is that 3% of women who develop TSS will die. Proper and quick treatment can prevent serious symptoms from developing.

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