ABSTRACT
Prior to 1979, toxic shock syndrome (TSS) was a rare disease described primarily in children. During the 1979-1981 epidemic, TSS became recognized as a disease that occurs primarily in menstruating women using tampons. Tampon users were demonstrated to be 18 times more likely to develop menstrual TSS as nonusers. While recent focus has shifted to non-menstrual cases which have occurred in conjunction with wound infections, postpartum endometritis and vaginitis, the predominance of cases continues to be related to menstruation.
