Dr. Philip Tierno Jr., chief of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Medical Center and a leading authority on tampon health risks writes in his recent book, The Secret Life of Germs:
“the number of current cases of TSS is underreported, perhaps significantly so. In 1989, only 45 cases of menstrual TSS were reported to the CDC. But to be reported to the CDC, an incidence of TSS must meet what is called a strict case definition. This requires that the patient have symptoms in all of five major categories: fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, rash, skin peeling one to two weeks after illness begins (assuming, of course, that death has not already occurred), low blood pressure or dizziness, and involvement of three or more organ systems. If symptoms are absent in one or two categories but present in others—for example, if a woman has a fever of 101.9 degrees Fahrenheit rather than 102, or if she does not have a rash—the situation may fulfill a clinical diagnosis of TSS. For every case I see that meets the CDC’s strict case criteria, I see five or more that fit the clinical bill.”
Dr. Tierno goes on to note that over the past 30 years he has never seen a single case of TSS resulting from the use of a pure cotton tampon. He also states his belief that because viscose rayon offers up to 4 times more specific surface area than cotton, every case of TSS is caused in part by the use of this material.
One way that women can be certain about what's in their tampons, is by moving to organic brands. Organic cotton tampons contain 100% pure cotton grown without pesticides and not bleached with chlorine. They contain no rayon, fragrances, or dyes. www.letstalkperiod.com is a great site to learn more about organic options.
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Dr. Philip Tierno Jr., chief of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Medical Center and a leading authority on tampon health risks writes in his recent book, The Secret Life of Germs:
“the number of current cases of TSS is underreported, perhaps significantly so. In 1989, only 45 cases of menstrual TSS were reported to the CDC. But to be reported to the CDC, an incidence of TSS must meet what is called a strict case definition. This requires that the patient have symptoms in all of five major categories: fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, rash, skin peeling one to two weeks after illness begins (assuming, of course, that death has not already occurred), low blood pressure or dizziness, and involvement of three or more organ systems. If symptoms are absent in one or two categories but present in others—for example, if a woman has a fever of 101.9 degrees Fahrenheit rather than 102, or if she does not have a rash—the situation may fulfill a clinical diagnosis of TSS. For every case I see that meets the CDC’s strict case criteria, I see five or more that fit the clinical bill.”
Dr. Tierno goes on to note that over the past 30 years he has never seen a single case of TSS resulting from the use of a pure cotton tampon. He also states his belief that because viscose rayon offers up to 4 times more specific surface area than cotton, every case of TSS is caused in part by the use of this material.
One way that women can be certain about what's in their tampons, is by moving to organic brands. Organic cotton tampons contain 100% pure cotton grown without pesticides and not bleached with chlorine. They contain no rayon, fragrances, or dyes. www.letstalkperiod.com is a great site to learn more about organic options.
August 23, 2010 - 8:28amThis Comment
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