Toxic shock syndrome is a bacterial infection associated with the use of tampons.
Common symptoms are a high fever, vomiting, red eyes, dizziness, light-headedness, muscle aches, diarrhea and a sunburn type rash, mostly on the palms of the hands and sole of the feet. At the first signs of fever or a rash remove the tampon and seek help immediately. It requires prompt medical evaluation because the disease can be deadly.
Attention was drawn to this disease in the beginning of the eighties because many women were infected. Research showed that in 90% of the cases it were women who had their period and used tampons. High absorbency tampons proved to provide a moist warm home where the bacteria could thrive and occasionally produces toxins. The absorbency and composition of tampons has changed, making TSS caused by tampons a rare occurrence.
To prevent TSS use a tampon with the minimum absorbency needed to control your flow and change them regularly. In the eighties women were advised to use pads at night. But today most women use tampons at night without any harm.