Toxic shock syndrome

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Toxic shock syndrome gained great notoriety in the medical and lay literature in 1980 when the association of menses, tampons, and disease was recognized. Withdrawal of certain high-absorbency tampons from the market may have decreased the incidence of menstrual toxic shock syndrome. However, the 300 cases reported in 1984 probably represent only a fraction of the number that actually occurred. In recent years, almost one case in three has been nonmenstrual, caused by Staphylococcus aureus infections at other sites.