Toxic shock

Syndrome

Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is not another single by Britney Spears but a serious although uncommon bacterial infection.

TSS was originally linked to the use of tampons, but it is now also known to be associated with the contraceptive sponge and diaphragm birth control methods. In rare cases, TSS has resulted from wounds or surgery incisions where bacteria have been able to enter the body and cause the infection.

In the past month the Confidential editorial team has been contacted by two readers who have suffered from the symptoms of TSS. In one case thankfully the symptoms were picked up immediately but in the other case - the doctor from another practice missed the cause of the problem and it was left for the patient to discover it for herself - thankfully she was at the very early stages of suffering from TSS. She’d simply forgotten to remove a tampon.

Some believe that when superabsorbent tampons are left in place for a long time, the tampons become a breeding ground for bacteria. Others have suggested that the fibres in the tampons can scratch the surface of the vagina, making it possible for bacteria or their toxins to enter the bloodstream.

Do not ignore your health! The symptoms of TSS include sudden high fever, a faint feeling, watery diarrhoea, headache, and muscle aches. There also may be bloodshot eyes and an unusual redness under the eyelids or inside the mouth (and vagina in females). After that, broken blood vessels may appear on the skin. Other symptoms may include: confusion or other mental changes, decreased urination, fatigue and weakness, thirst, weak and rapid pulse; pale, cool, moist skin and rapid breathing.

Prevention:

The bacteria that cause TSS can be carried on unwashed hands. So hand washing is extremely important. You can reduce your risk of TSS by either avoiding tampons, alternating them with sanitary napkins or simply by changing them frequently. Between your periods, it’s a good idea to store tampons away from heat and moisture (where bacteria can grow) - for example, in a bedroom rather than in a bathroom closet. If your daughter is just starting her menstrual period, she should know about taking these precautions. Doctors typically treat TSS with antibiotics or in more serious cases the patient may be hospitalised.

Case Study 1:

Over a period of time I found myself becoming increasingly tired and the energy that l had taken for granted just disappeared. I could no longer get out of bed, by lunch time I would have the most excruciating headaches, my body ached, I suffered from diarrhoea, cramps and just generally felt awful and regularly thought I was going to faint. Finally I knew that I wasn’t suffering from flu and had to seek medical help. My insides also felt as if they’d been pickled so I thought that was the best place to start. Fortunately my usual gynaecologist wasn’t able to see me so I reluctantly phoned another hospital and I feel so lucky that I did. I was guilty of not having regular check-ups but I was also the victim of misinformation. My gynaecologist had informed me that it was perfectly OK to leave my coil inside my body way past the specified time. How wrong could one person be? By the time I dragged myself to hospital I was in the early stages of toxic shock. The coil was removed immediately and antibiotics prescribed. Within forty eight hours I felt the old me returning. I will never skip on a check up again.

Case Study 2:

The victim started to feel run down and suffer from headaches. Although at the time she didn’t connect it with any gynaecological problems she decided to go and get herself checked-out. Her doctor gave her an ultra-sound and internal exam yet missed the cause. A tampon that she had forgotten to remove some time ago. Fortunately she was able to diagnose the problem herself and removed it immediately. Luckily she returned to normal health very quickly and didn’t need to seek medical attention.

Article Kindly provided by Bahrain Confidential - Your number 1 lifestyle magazine for Bahrain

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