TSS stands for Toxic Shock Syndrome, which is caused by a bacteria. More than 9 out of every 10 cases of TSS are linked to using tampons during menstruation. A tampon is a product put in the vagina to absorb menstrual fluid before it leaves the body. Learning about how to use tampons helps to decrease the risk of TSS.
Some symptoms of TSS are headache, sore throat, sudden fever, vomiting, diarrhea, achy muscles and a rash that looks like a sunburn.
To prevent TSS, change tampons every 3 to 4 hours, no matter how light the bleeding is. Tampons shouldn’t be left in longer than 8 hours, so some people choose to wear a pad at night.