A 13-YEAR-OLD girl from the North-East has become the youngest ever victim of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) in the UK after using tampons for the first time, an inquest heard yesterday.

And coroner Michael Sheffield is to write to the Department of Health urging that the warnings about the extremely rare infection provided with boxes of tampons are re-examined.

Recording a verdict of misadventure on Kayleigh Ann Martell, of Acklam, Middlesbrough, he described her death as a "tragic mischance".

TSS is a type of blood poisoning which kills up to three people a year. Half the reported cases are associated with tampon use.

The inquest heard how Kayleigh began vomiting and suffering from diarrhoea after returning to Acklam Grange School after the summer holidays on September 2, 1999.

Her mother Carol said she was brought home by stepfather Terry, and next day she had removed a tampon from Kayleigh, while bathing her to try and get her temperature down.

The Middlesbrough inquest was told that it was not possible to know when Kayleigh had last changed the tampon.

Mrs Martell said it was the first full month her daughter had used the mini tampons, a Morrison own brand.

She said she had read the accompanying information leaflet thoroughly and had left it with Kayleigh.

"I had no reason to suspect it (the tampon) had anything to do with her condition," she added.

Mrs Martell rang the family GP who advised giving Kayleigh fluids, believing she was suffering from a viral infection or food poisoning.

Later that day, Mrs Martell again called their GP, Dr Christopher Ankorne, after Kayleigh developed a high temperature.

He told the inquest he at first thought she was suffering from meningitis and administered penicillin. He said he had never treated a patient for TSS.

Dr Ankorne called an ambulance, and Kayleigh was taken to South Cleveland Hospital where she was placed on a ventilator but died on September 5.

Dr Paul Geddie, consultant pathologist at University Hospital of North Tees identified TSS as the cause of death.

The coroner said: "I am satisfied that she did die of toxic shock syndrome and this was caused by the use of a tampon." He said the immune systems of younger girls were not as well developed to fight off TSS.

"She thought she was carrying out a harmless practice, the same as a large proportion of the female population," said Mr Sheffield.

He said he would write to the Department of Health about the adequacy and prominence of TSS warnings on boxes.

Last night, Mrs Martell said the verdict, and the promise of a letter to the Department of Health, were the best the family could hope for. She said: "We just want better awareness, and for people to be given an informed choice."

Melanie Horsefall, of WM Morrison, said the tampons in question had been made by Inbrand UK, and were no longer available. Another firm now supplies Morrison with own-brand tampons