Toxic shock syndrome, even though it is a very rare condition, can affect anyone, regardless of the sex or age. However, the best way of preventing this condition is through learning more about it, its manifestations and characteristics.
Therefore, the following lines are dedicated to this illness and, if you desire to learn more about it, read on.
What is Toxic Shock Syndrome?
Usually, women who use tampons are more likely to have heard about the toxic shock syndrome than other people, mainly through the connections between this form of menstruation management and the disease itself. However, the TSS is not strictly related to tampons and its usage since the same problem may appear once a person is using intrauterine devices or contraceptive sponges. Moreover, TSS has been recorded to have appeared in people who were wounded during surgeries, making it possible for bacteria to enter the body.
Either way, TSS attacks the body as a whole. The culprits behind it are two different types of bacteria – the staphylococcus aureus and steptococcus pyogenes, even though the latter is less likely to be involved. Both of these types of bacteria emit toxins which attack the body. Once the body is not capable of defending itself anymore, the immune system takes over, resulting in all the common symptoms of the TSS.
However, most recorded cases of the TSS were related to old types of tampons. Today, tampons have undergone various improvements and are considered much safer than they were when they first appeared in the 1970s. Therefore, what was once considered to be the frequency of appearance of TSS has dropped by at least 50% nowadays.
Apart from being related to the items related to menstruation periods, the TSS has been related to chickenpox, pregnancy, giving birth or using the packing for nosebleeds for too long. Yet, all of these occurrences are extremely rare.
Symptoms of Toxic Shock Syndrome
Some of the main signs related to the TSS are high fevers, reaching to 102 degrees Fahrenheit and even more, drop in the blood pressure accompanied with feeling lightheaded and prone to fainting and rashes appearing all over one's body, even on the palms and the soles of his/her feet.
Additionally, people experiencing the TSS may vomit or be bothered by diarrhea, as well as serious aches in the muscles and a bright red color appearing on the eyes, in the throat and in the vaginal area. Furthermore, confusion, headaches, seizures or disorientation may take place too. Finally, TSS is known to be related with organ failure, especially related to kidneys.
The toxic shock syndrome is likely to appear within 2 or 3 days once the bacterial vaginal infection has appeared. However, this is not exclusive and may depend on the type of the infection itself.
Prevention
In order to keep TSS at bay, all you need to do is to be careful about certain factors related to personal hygiene and tending to wounds. Rest assured that, initially, the chances of suffering from this disease are very small. Nevertheless, you are advised to keep any wounds clean and bandaged, changing the bandages on a regular basis, avoiding leaving them on for more than a day. Also, once you have certain wounds you are taking care of, make sure you pay attention to them, keeping an eye for any signs of infections. If infections take place, this will manifest through swelling, pain, tenderness or even fevers. In these situations, do not hesitate to seek medical assistance immediately.
If you desire to be safe from TSS during your menstrual periods, you will be best protected once you opt for pads instead of tampons. However, if you need to use these or desire to use them, choose those which offer the lowest form of absorbency while helping you deal with the problems related to this part of the month effectively. Alternatively, use tampons and some other methods like sanitary napkins interchangeably.
Finally, do not use tampons or some forms of intrauterine contraception once you have already suffered from TSS in the past.
If you have any doubts about this condition or feel that you might be prone to it due to any possible reasons, seek medical assistance and have the whole problem sorted out. Even though TSS is a very rare condition, if you are not careful enough, it can affect your health too. Therefore, be completely conscious of your health and personal hygiene, keeping this dangerous form of bacterial infection at bay.
To sum up, the toxic shock syndrome is a condition manifesting through excessive number of bacteria being present in your body, compromising your health seriously and leading to the appearance of various symptoms. Usually related to unsanitary usage of tampons, the TSS is not to be neglected as a possible outcome of these situations.
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