Warning on tampons

Press, 7 October 1980, Page 1

Warning on tampons

PA - Wellington • /women should not. .use ' tampons during - men- ; striiation until the possi- • bility of danger from their ' use had. been clarified, = said the S Director-General ■ df Health (Dr H. J. H. ; Hiddlestone) yesterday.- - /Reports from the United ■ States of potentially fatal cases of toxic shock syn- • drome caused by the use • of tampons had al ert ed ' the Department of Health - to the problem, he said '' * “Now two. suspected ’ cases have been reported ? in Auckland, indicating 'that the danger exist in New Zealand, Dr Hiddlestone said m a ‘ privileged statement - “Investigations are con- • tinuing in an effort toi iso- ’ late the. cause of the prob-

iem. It is possible that a particular substance, carboxy methyl cellulose, may act as a culture medium favouring the growth of the causative organism. “At this stage, however, it is not possible to indicate firmly that any particular brand of tampon used in New Zealand is proven to be safe, and . hence it is considered wise , that use of tampons'should be temporarily avoided,” Dr Hiddlestone said.

“The : toxic shock syndrome is a rare but severe illness, with sudden onset of high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, and muscle pains followed by symptoms of shock. A sunburnlike rash may be present. Doctors'are asked to notify any suspected cases,” he said.

It was quite possible that there had been cases of toxic shock syndrome among New Zealand women without their being diagnosed as such, said the Director of Clinical Services (Dr John Phillips) last evening

. The symptoms were the same for an\ r acute infection, he said. If New Zealand were to experience the same incident of the disease as had been reported in overseas countries, it could expect up to about 16 cases a year. •' “It is clearly not a very common problem,” Dr Phillips said. The warning against use of tampons was a “holding move” at this stage. The Health Department had examined the problem.

and until the cases were reported in Auckland late last week, it had appeared that the brands causing trouble overseas were not present in New Zealand. ■ “There is really no evidence suggesting that anyone brand is causing any trouble,” Dr Phillips said. The department would continue biological and chemical tests on tampons, and he had no idea how long it would take before the warning might be'lifted. The Deputy Medical Officer of Health in Christchurch' ' (Dr M. A. Briesemann) said last evening that there had been no reported or suspected cases of toxic shock syndrome locally.