A long time ago there was a rash of women coming down with TSS due to the super absorbent tampons being used ... from that I believe the companies had to quit making them or issue warnings about changing out the super absorbent ones more often than a regular one. This is sad case - not sure maybe it may or may not have been prevented.

It's not just leaving a tampon in. A piece of one broke off inside of me. I did not realize it but developed a horrible odor (excuse the crassness.) I was checked out and it was found. So ladies, you know your bodies. Listen when they talk to you.

My cousin had it and survived physically, but became a totally different person from the high fever she endured (107). She was funny and smart before, but now she is really slow and doesn't seem to understand the most simple things. She got it from a tampon not removed before sex which she thought had been.

Very sad. Such a beautiful girl. Any product that can potentially harm someone if used inappropriately should have that fact boldly and prominently displayed on the packaging. A needless tragedy.

... Did she just compare tampons to cigarettes and alcohol?

please read instructions on box..

A warning in a bigger, bolder font as well as listing the symptoms of TSS on the inside flap of the box (and not on a paper insert which, as the mom says, just gets tossed in the trash) seems pretty reasonable to me. It wouldn't cost anything to do those things. And while it might not help very much, if it's essentially a zero cost change and would save even a couple young lives it would be worth it in my opinion.

Why is it the government's job to teach our children what parents should be? Did this woman not teach her daughter this?

This is devastating. I agree with the mother. More information should be made available. Better warnings should be mandated.

This woman failed as a mother by not teaching her daughter basic sanitary practices and is trying to assuage her conscience with this stupid crusade. Pathetic.

So very sad. Back in the early 90's I know that there were a few cases related to OB tampons. I stopped using them because it freaked me out. This beautiful girl was so young. Condolences to her family.

Tragic that the young girl died, but it was from a rare disease, not a lack of warning labels.

Many senior citizens will tell you that when tampons first came onto the market, most of the "old-school" doctors warned against their use to their female patients of age, feeling that the string itself served as an avenue for bacteria to enter body openings. Seems they were pretty smart. Now the medical field is so used to the product being around, does not occur to them to warn.

I’m not trying to maligned the dead but if this is about tampons isn’t that old news? I’m thinking the next step since the shape allows for a small battery and a sound device, is for a bell to go off or a Bluetooth connection to an app will alert the person that the tampon needs removal after 4+\- hours. The app thing might get funding, the more I think about it.

I don't see how increasing a warning label is going to make any difference. Has a label on a pack of cigarettes ever stopped someone from smoking? Denis Leary did a bit about that back in the 80's. Education, which can only be somewhat regulated, would be the only real way to raise awareness.

ABC - one of these photo captions is incorrect.

Since what I am reading is it is easy to forget, could there be an app on their phone to remind a women to change. (Or set a reminder on their phone). People these days and young women especially, have their phone with them all of the time. It seems it could be a simple way to remind them. It won't solve all TSS, but it may help to reduce the numbers related to tampons.

My condolences to mom, family and her friends.
Wow! I haven't heard about TSS in years as well. I recall the warnings and stories of TSS back in the 80's too. It had me scared but aware.

She went downhill unusually fast. It makes me wonder if there was another condition that made it worse or if she was trying to hide how sick she was so as not to worry her mother. It's great to raise awareness, but TSS from tampon use is less common than it was in the 80's before tampons were redesigned to reduce the risk. Her daughter was incredibly unlucky.

I think most women are aware that can happen, but it doesn’t stop you from forgetting time to time about removing or changing it. Not sure there is anymore that can be done for awareness. It’s taught in schools and on the package. Sounds like just a tragic thing happened. Very sad.

Sad.

But these warnings have been on tampon packages for decades.

Did they find the tampon during autopsy?

It’s my understanding that TSS is the body’s immune system response to an overgrowth of certain bacteria. I was hospitalized for it a couple of years ago and fortunately lived through it. I am past menopause so no tampons. Those symptoms are an emergency whether you are menstruating or not. You wouldn’t believe how fast you go from feeling ill to almost dead.

A local Jersey Girl! Such a sad story - I haven't heard of any TSS issues in over 30 years. Was a big thing back in my early period days (the 80s) - every girl knew about the TSS warning on the box - its still there today.

Not sure making the letters bigger will make a difference - the instance rate of TSS in menstrual women is so very low as it is.