She is a model known to have had a leg amputated after being a victim of Toxic Shock Syndrome (SCT), an infection caused by tampons … Five years later, the drama is renewed. However, this syndrome is very rare; but increasing. What to say to women who are worried?
Why a second amputation?
Amputation due to this syndrome is exceptional. One second … The specialists questioned do not hide their amazement and have only two hypotheses; An infection with an ultra resistant germ that would have survived all these years; We can then assume that this is not due to the buffer. After this first accident, we can indeed assume that Lauren was very vigilant. Second hypothesis a completely different disease, the details given by the young woman are sometimes a little strange.
What is the cause of TBS?
It is a microbe, a well-known bacterium called staphylococcus, often present in humans without consequence, but which is sometimes resistant to antibiotic treatments. It is therefore not the tampon that is the cause, but the transporter… This will not reassure women, but similar cases have been described with diaphragms, caps or cervical sponges. Most of these infections are easy to cure without sequelae under two conditions: take antibiotics quickly and hope that they are not facing a resistant microbe.
Fortunately, this is particularly rare. However, since the late 1990s, TBS has reappeared and is increasing every year: 5 cases in 2014, 19 in 2011, 22 in 2014; which shows that the war against antibiotic resistance due to our overconsumption of these drugs (and their use in breeding) is far from being won.
The diagnosis must be made as quickly as possible
TBS makes you think of the flu with pimples that look like the ones you get when you are in the sun, so it’s not easy to relate to the tampon. A small peculiarity not always present, fainting or the feeling of wanting to faint when standing.
In conclusion, faced with this type of symptoms, the doctor flounders and does not think about this diagnosis. When in doubt, he must deal with it.
What to say from a practical point of view about tampons ?
Prefer tampons with the lowest absorption capacity.
Change the tampon often, no more than 3 to 6 hours in a row, which obviously poses the problem of the night. The sanitary napkin then seems more suitable.
And as always with germs, have impeccable hand hygiene.
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