Women’s Health: Indiana Mom Warns Against Tampon Use After Daughters Hospitalized with Sepsis
By Taylor Knight
Published Nov. 19, 2023, 4:39 p.m. ET
An Indiana mother of six is speaking out against tampon use after her two daughters were hospitalized with sepsis from toxic shock syndrome infections.
Javon Johnson, 46, of Elkhart, shared her harrowing experience with Kennedy News, stating that her daughter Devine, 21, fell ill in May 2022 after using a “super-plus absorbency” tampon. She was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms and organ inflammation for a week.
Just two months later, Johnson’s 17-year-old daughter Jaya experienced similar symptoms during a family vacation to Florida. Despite initially thinking it was heat stroke, her condition worsened, and she was diagnosed with sepsis from toxic shock syndrome.
Toxic shock syndrome is a rare bacterial condition often associated with tampon use, affecting 1 in every 100,000 people and can cause severe organ damage or death, according to The Cleveland Clinic.
Doctors informed Johnson that her daughters’ infections were caused by the “higher potency chemicals” in super-plus absorbency tampons. As a result, the Johnson household has become tampon-free, with Javon advocating against their use altogether, stating, “I would just not recommend tampons at all at this point. I advocate to not use tampons at all as they’re not safe to use.”
Despite the traumatic ordeal, the Johnson family remains focused on helping their daughters through the recovery process. “My husband and I are grateful because both of them survived it,” Javon shared, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness about the potential risks associated with tampon use.