Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) first hit the news in the early 1980s, when a number of women died or lost limbs to the disease. Many of the infected women used a brand of tampons called Rely™, which was designed to be kept in the vagina over long periods of time. Using a single tampon for a long period of time allows bacteria to build up and can result in infection, and the TSS cases of the 1980s were believed to be due to a buildup of toxins produced by an infection of vaginal Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (Reingold, 1991).
TSS is an acute, fast-developing disease that can cause multiple organ failure. Symptoms of TSS usually include fever, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle ache, and a scarlet-colored rash. It may progress rapidly from dizziness or fainting to respiratory distress, kidney failure, shock, and heart failure and can be fatal if medical attention is not received immediately.