Kimberly-Clark, which manufacturers personal-care products, announced last Tuesday that the regular absorbency U by Kotex Sleek Tampons have been recalled in the United States, and Canada, because of “a quality-related defect,” explaining that some consumers reported having to seek medical attention “to remove tampon pieces left in the body.”

The company said in a news release that some consumers also reported irritation, infections, injuries and abdominal pain among other issues.

Women should be on high alert for symptoms of any retained tampon product. Unless the tampon has completely unraveled it may not be as obvious that all of its contents have not been removed. So please be sure to inspect the removed tampon to make sure it has been removed in its entirety. If the product has unraveled or come apart upon removal, please follow up immediately with a health professional who can inspect the area and remove any retained product. The provider can also inspect for any irritation, damage, injury, or infection that may be a result of remaining material.

In worse case scenarios, retention of tampon products can lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). This is a rare lethal complication from a bacterial infection that creates toxins that overwhelm the body. TSS is treatable if recognized early. Signs and symptoms include sudden fever, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, confusion, muscle aches, and headache. Initial treatment includes a cocktail of antibiotics, medications to maintain adequate blood pressure, and IV fluids for dehydration and to flush out toxins.

The recall is limited to specific lots of U by Kotex Sleek Tampons, Regular Absorbency, that were manufactured Oct. 7, 2016 – Oct. 16, 2018, and distributed Oct. 17, 2016 – Oct. 23, 2018. Consumers can identify this product by looking for specific lot numbers found on the bottom of the package. A full list of recalled lot numbers is available on the U by Kotex website. Retailers have been alerted to remove the recalled lot numbers from shelves and post a notification in their stores.

No other U by Kotex-branded products are subject to this recall.

Watch Nurse Alice discuss it on NBC: