Each year, around twenty cases of menstrual toxic shock syndrome (TSS) are recorded in France. The reality could be even more alarming, as this disease is not reportable. On the occasion of World Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) recalls the importance of good practices to prevent the occurrence of of this life-threatening syndrome.
This infectious disease results from the release into the blood of a bacterial toxin produced by a particular strain of staphylococcus. As ANSES explains, the people concerned are all carriers of this strain. However, they do not have enough antibodies to fight against this bacterium. Problem, the majority of people who have their period do not know if they are carriers or not, which therefore makes all those who put on internal intimate protection potential victims.
Menstrual toxic shock syndrome is caused by the improper use of intimate protections during periods of menstruation. But not all protections are affected. This is because TSS is only caused by devices inserted into the vagina, such as menstrual cups or tampons. Conversely, sanitary napkins or panty liners do not represent a risk.
What are the potential consequences? ANSES specifies that the syndrome is mainly manifested by high fever, flu-like symptoms (muscle pain, sore throat) or gastroenteritis (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.), a rash resembling sunburn, etc. . Although most of the time these symptoms appear within three to five days, they are not specific and therefore not always easy to relate to this syndrome. “After a few days and without medical care, failures of different organs – the kidney, the brain, the liver… – are observed and can lead, in rare cases but which have already occurred, to serious complications that can go as far as amputation, or even death”, warns ANSES. If you suspect toxic shock, remove your protection immediately and consult a doctor without delay.
To limit the risk, it is advisable to follow certain recommendations: do not wear your sanitary protection for more than six hours in a row, have only one protection at a time (and only during menstruation), favor external protection, like towels, overnight. In addition, it is essential to wash your hands correctly before and after each manipulation of your intimate protection, to choose equipment adapted to your menstrual flow and to avoid protection in the event of a previous diagnosis of TSS.
The Health Agency also recommends adding explicit information on the risk of toxic syndrome directly on packaging and leaflets. An Opinion Way survey – carried out in 2017 for ANSES – revealed that 91% of women questioned used external protection in combination with another protection (such as tampons). Only 21% of women exclusively used sanitary napkins.