15-year-old Girl Comes Close to Losing Life from Toxic Shock Syndrome

When you purchase a box of tampons, you might notice that there is a warning on the side but nobody really stops to think that it could happen to them. Unfortunately, it did happen to 15-year-old Rylie Whitten, who was just like any other girl her age. She had recently returned to school after winter break.

She developed flulike symptoms but nobody was too concerned at first until the symptoms began to progress. Soon, she was not only aching, she was vomiting and had severe pain and her parents recognized that it was not just the flu.

Fortunately, Rylie’s parents made the quick decision to get her to the hospital. It was there that they discovered she was suffering from Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).

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The issue with TSS apparently came from tampon usage. Due to the fact that she was dealing with a critical infection, she was put on life support, was receiving heavy sedation and kidney dialysis. She was also fed a steady stream of powerful medications to counteract the effect the infection was having on her organs. Some of the organs that were affected included her heart and lungs.

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After a couple weeks have passed, Rylie’s health is beginning to show signs of improvement. Now she is functioning without the help of life support.

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According to the Center for Disease Control, Toxic Shock Syndrome began to receive widespread attention in the 1980s. This is due to unexplained illnesses associated with fever, shock and multiple organ dysfunctions.

An increase in death rates was also reported among otherwise healthy young women across the United States. Although it is an uncommon infection, the effects of it can be deadly.

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It may be possible to reduce the possibility of TSS by using a tampon with the lowest suitable absorbency for your menstrual flow. Using a panty liner or sanitary towel may also help to reduce the possibility of TSS.

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Via: Jumble Joy

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