I was looking for some insurance quotes online when I came across an article about Tetanus. Let me share your what I have learned about it.
When a disease can kill 60 to 80 per cent of its victims in spite of the fact that it is entirely preventable, it is not surprising that it has been called the “inexcusable” disease. Such is the case with lockjaw, technically known as “tetanus” which can be totally prevented by immunization. Each year in the United States, we are still seeing more than 100 cases of this deadly disease.
Tetanus is an acute infectious disease, caused by a toxin elaborated by a spore-forming bacterium that can lie dormant for years in soil and in animal manure. When it contaminates even trivial wounds, the injured tissues provide conditions that allow the spores to become active and produce the toxin that causes convulsive contraction of the muscles, often beginning as stiffness of the muscles of the jaw.
The toxin appears to travel along nerve fibers to the brain substance and, once there, is fixed in the tissue and cannot be neutralized by antitoxin.That is why patients not previously immunized against tetanus who have wounds suspected of contamination by tetanus spores, are given antitoxin in an effort to neutralize the toxin and prevent it from becoming fixed in the substance of the nervous system.
Unfortunately, the effectiveness of antitoxin in the treatment of acute tetanus is uncertain. It often has serious side effects, and its use is actually less important than other emergency and supportive measures.
The treatment of choice is prevention. Every man, woman and child should be immunized against tetanus.
Prevention of tetanus begins in infancy with three doses of DTP, which contains diphtheria and tetanus toxoid and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine, usually starting at two to three months of age, the shots being spaced at four to six-week intervals. At periodic intervals thereafter, booster shots maintain immunity until adulthood, when renewal of immunity by booster shots is necessary only every 10 years.
There is concern recently about laxity in immunizing children because of diminishing funds in public clinics and about the older age group, who may have missed the benefit of organized protection through pediatric or military care. This is especially true of older women, who as a group, have tended to be overlooked in the area of infectious disease prevention.
If there is any question in your mind about your tetanus immunization – ask your doctor – don’t fail to have your shots.