Was tampon related toxic shock ever reported in Japan?

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 13 Nov 2006 12:13 PST

sturge-ga,

There are many medical articles on toxic shock syndrome in Japan, but
none of the dozens that I came across make any mention of tampons as a
possible cause.

I also found a newspaper article that strongly suggests -- but doesn't
say outright -- that the super-absorbent tampons associated with toxic
shock came close to being marketed in Japan, but never actually hit
the market.  Here's an excerpt from the article:


=====

In 1978, Sanyo Chemical and Kao received approval from the Health and
Welfare Ministry to use their super-- absorbent resin in the
manufacture of sanitary napkins. In 1980, the toxic shock syndrome
(TSS) panic occurred in the United States.

Strict product liability laws and the suspicion that superabsorbents
caused TSS were enough to persuade the big U.S. chemical companies to
close their super-absorbent research projects.

In 1982, as the dust settled on TSS, Uni Charm and Kao launched
diapers using super-absorbent polymers in Japan.

=====

It appears that diapers were the first (perhaps only) item marketed in
Japan that contained the super-absorbent polymers associated with
toxic shock syndrome.


Let me know you thoughts on how to proceed on this one.


pafalafa-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 13 Nov 2006 18:04 PST

Some follow-up.  In a database of Japanese research, I searched for [
toxic shock tampon ] and came up with this result:


A Case Report of Menstrual Toxic Shock Syndrome Caused by Toxin
Producing Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Vaginal Fluid

Ishii, K. Saito, K.  
ACTA OBSTETRICA ET GYNAECOLOGICA JAPONICA -JAPANESE EDITION- 


The article can be ordered online here:


http://direct.bl.uk/bld/PlaceOrder.do?UIN=093865297&ETOC=RN&from=searchengine


HOWEVER...I have not been able to view the article itself, so I don't
know if it has the information you're looking for, and what's more, I
don't even know if it's available in English or not (though if not, it
may well have an English summary).


Also, you may want to consider contacting the JAPANESE SOCIETY OF
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY directly, as who better to provide details
on this particular topic.

Let me know your thoughts on all this.


pafalafa-ga

---

Clarification of Question by sturge-ga on 14 Nov 2006 13:48 PST

This answers my question.  If you could include a link or something
for the article you took the excerpt from, that would be very helpful.
 Thanks.

Again, my thanks.

The article I excerpted from above came from a Japanese newspaper, and
as with your other question, I can't reproduce it in full, since it is
copyrighted.

However, here's the citation and some additional excerpts...a good
librarian (especially with access to Lexis-Nexis) should be able to
find you a complete copy:


==========

The Daily Yomiuri
October 31, 1995


Japanese firms lead in disposable-diaper technology


...More than 10 years ago, the infant diaper industry realized that
diapers needed upgrading ...At the forefront were Kao Corp. and Uni
Charm Corp. which developed super-absorbent diapers, spurred on by the
success of Japanese chemical companies in developing super-absorbent
resins....The phenomenal success of the new diapers in Japan
encouraged U.S. giants Procter & Gamble Inc. and Kimberley-Clark Corp.
to follow suit. As a consequence of this early technological lead,
Japanese chemical companies still dominate the global disposable
market despite the yen's appreciation.

...In 1965, the Northern Research Laboratory of the U.S. Agriculture
Department developed a petrochemical-derived resin nicknamed "super
slurper," which was capable of absorbing 500 times its deadweight in
liquid....This development inspired many major U.S. chemical companies
to develop their own ultra-absorbent resins, even though the only
application for the product at the time was feminine hygiene products.

...In 1978, Sanyo Chemical and Kao received approval from the Health
and Welfare Ministry to use their super-- absorbent resin in the
manufacture of sanitary napkins. In 1980, the toxic shock syndrome
(TSS) panic occurred in the United States...Strict product liability
laws and the suspicion that superabsorbents caused TSS were enough to
persuade the big U.S. chemical companies to close their
super-absorbent research projects.

...In 1982, as the dust settled on TSS, Uni Charm and Kao launched
diapers using super-absorbent polymers in Japan.

==========


Let me know if there's anything more I can do for you on this.

paf