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Toxic Shock Syndrome - Prevention
You can significantly lower your risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) by taking a few simple precautions.
- Avoid using tampons and barrier contraceptives (such as a diaphragm, cervical caps, or sponges) during the first 12 weeks after childbirth, when the risk for TSS is higher.
- If you have had menstrual TSS, do not use tampons, barrier contraceptives, or an intrauterine device (IUD).
Careful tampon, diaphragm, and contraceptive sponge use
- Follow the directions on package inserts when using tampons, diaphragms, or contraceptive sponges.
- Wash your hands with soap before inserting or removing a tampon, diaphragm, or contraceptive sponge.
- Change your tampon at least every 8 hours, or use tampons for only part of the day. Do not leave your diaphragm or contraceptive sponge in for more than 12 to 18 hours.
- Alternate wearing tampons and sanitary pads. For example, use pads at night and tampons during the day.
- Use tampons with the lowest absorbency that you need. The risk of TSS is higher with superabsorbent tampons.
Caring for skin wounds to prevent skin infection
- Keep all skin wounds clean to prevent infection and promote healing. This includes cuts, punctures, scrapes, burns, sores from shingles, insect or animal bites, and surgical wounds.
- Keep children from scratching chickenpox sores.
If signs of infection appear, seek medical evaluation immediately . These signs include:
- Increased pain, swelling, redness, or warmth around the affected area.
- Red streaks extending from the affected area.
- Drainage of pus from the area.
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit, or groin.
- Fever.
Preventing strep infection during pregnancy or after giving birth
A woman who is pregnant or has recently given birth has a greater risk of developing strep TSS, especially if one of her children has strep throat. Any pregnant woman or new mother with a child who shows signs of strep throat should talk to her gynecologist or obstetrician.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Toxic Shock Syndrome Topics
ENABLEX is a prescription medicine used in adults to treat the following symptoms due to a condition called overactive bladder:
- · having a strong need to go to the bathroom right away (also called "urgency")
- · leaks or wetting accidents (also called "urinary incontinence")
- · having to go to the bathroom too often (also called "urinary frequency")
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
You should not take once-daily ENABLEX if you have certain types of stomach problems, glaucoma, or have trouble emptying your bladder. Side effects of ENBLEX include blurred vision, and more commonly dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, and abdominal pain. Use caution when doing certain activities until you know how ENBALEX affects you.
VIVELLE-DOT (estradiol transdermal system) IS AVAILABLE BY PRESCRPTION ONLY.
INDICATION
Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman's ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).
Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).
Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.
The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.
You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see Full Prescribing Information for Vivelle-Dot.
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