Can tampons cause toxic shock syndrome?

TSS is short for Toxic shock syndrome.

TSS occurs when certain naturally occurring bacteria are allowed to overgrow in contact with mucus membranes or damaged tissues, those bacteria then produce TSST-1 toxin which enters the body and if you lack immunity it overwhelms the immune system. TSS can be fatal.

Tampons account for 75% of all TSS cases - 1 in 700 women will contract TSS.

Tampons give bacteria the perfect place to multiply within the body, while also effecting vaginal pH and plugging-up the vagina so preventing self-cleaning so the vagina cannot rid itself of this bacteria or bacterial toxins. Tampons are within a major bodily orifice of mucus membranes and they damage vaginal tissues so give TSST-1 a direct route into the body. Women are primarily the victims of TSS.

Initial symptoms of TSS include a sudden high fever, low blood pressure, muscle aches, sore throat, bloodshot eyes, red mucus membranes, vomiting and nausea, lose bowel movements and a sunburn-type rash - symptoms can vary greatly from person to person and depending on which organs are effected. Long-term it's a very unpleasant illness that can kill within a week. There are stories of real life TSS cases in the link below if interested in more details of how it effects victims.