If you have these symptoms, seek immediate medical care. Treatment must begin as soon as possible. Remove any tampon or sponge. Treatment includes antibiotics, fluids, and cleaning of any skin breaks. Close observation may be needed to help prevent further problems.
Most people recover without any long-term effects.
To prevent toxic shock syndrome, change your tampons often or even use pads at night. Avoid the use of highly absorbent tampons. Any concern about a lost tampon should be evaluated. Women using birth control pills and condoms with a spermicide called nonoxynol-9 are at less risk. Women who have had toxic shock syndrome with their periods are at risk for getting it again with their next period.