Kimberly-Clark said they had received reports that the U by Kotex Sleek Tampons were “turning apart,” forcing some users to require medical assistance to remove parts.
The press release issued on Tuesday reported that any woman who is suffering from vaginal pain, bleeding or irritation should see a doctor immediately.
A toxic shock can sometimes occur if the tampons remain in the vaginal for a long time.
According to a statement by Kimberly Clark, “a small number of cases of infections, vaginal irritation, localized vaginal lesions and other symptoms” have been reported because of the “quality-related defect.”
The specific products recalled are only regular absorbances of U by Kotex Sleek Tampons manufactured between October 7, 2016, and October 16, 2018, and distributed between October 17, 2016, and October 23, 2018.
Kimberly-Clark also urged women with hot flashes, abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting after using tampons to seek immediate medical attention.
The company’s statement includes product codes that consumers can look for to ensure they do not use the recalled tampons. Retailers are also advised to remove defective tampons from shelves and include notices in stores.
In a frequently asked questions (FAQ) section on the U by Kotex Sleek Tampons website, the company stated that “they’re implementing systems to prevent similar problems in the future.”
The recall raised concerns about toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a condition attributed mainly to defective tampons that affected hundreds of people and killed dozens of US women in the early 1980s.
The highly absorbent tampon materials used at this time led women to develop a severe bacterial infection.
According to the Mayo Clinic, TSS can cause high fever, rashes, liver and kidney problems, shortness of breath and even death.
In the U.S., between one and three women out of every 100,000 are affected by TSS, and not always because of the use of tampons.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which enforces tampon safety standards, warns that the use of highly absorbent tampons or the use of highly absorbent tampons longer than recommended may increase the risk of TSS development.
Source: Jezebel