A little theory
The main causative agent of this infectious pathology is tetanus bacillus or a gram-positive flagellated bacterium, which is capable of growing, developing and multiplying in oxygen-free conditions.
In fact, the bacterium itself does not pose any danger to the human body, but the exotoxin it produces can be very unsafe and lead to death. Once in the body, this substance enters the medulla oblongata and spinal cord through the motor fibers of the peripheral nerves. When this stick is active, a person may notice severe cramps in the arms and legs, and difficulty breathing.
The composition contains horse blood immunoglobulins, which are pre-vaccinated with tetanus toxin and toxoid. During the manufacturing process, this whey goes through many stages of purification, and in the end it is intensively concentrated using salt fractionation. Visually, it does not look like blood at all, since the serum has a clear or slightly yellowish tint, without any sediment, and is available in the form of a liquid for injection in clear glass ampoules.
As indicated in the medical record
All vaccinations given are recorded in the medical record. This document notes the name of the drug used. For example, the complex adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine is designated by the abbreviation DPT. In addition to the name of the vaccination, the administered dose of antigenic material, the manufacturer, the date of the manipulation, series and number are indicated.
The reaction of the vaccinated person to the vaccine must also be described.
How is the vaccination done?
Tetanus vaccination is given at regular intervals. They are done more often in children than in adults. The fact is that immunity in children develops over a long period of time, so the risk of infection with various diseases increases significantly.
To ensure that the baby can easily endure this procedure, the doctor must conduct an examination. If signs of colds and other pathologies are observed, then medical advice is given. If there are no health abnormalities, parents receive recommendations for caring for their child after vaccination and are sent to the vaccination office.
Vaccination rules and vaccination schedule
The first tetanus vaccine is prescribed to a child at 3 months. Then it is repeated twice (after 45 days), namely at 4, 5 and 6 months. Usually, the DPT vaccine is used so as not to give the baby several injections separately (see also: how are the second and third DTP tolerated?).
READ ALSO: What are the side effects of DTP vaccination in infants?
This frequency is necessary for the proper formation of immunity to infection. It should be understood that no vaccination will protect a child from possible infection 100%, but it will help to survive the disease in a mild form and without complications.
READ ALSO: What can be the complications after vaccination with measles, rubella, mumps?
Revaccination is carried out three times:
- 1.5 years;
- 6–7 years;
- 14–15 years old.
Revaccination is mandatory before entering school, then in adolescence and at 18 years of age, after which it is repeated every 10 years. There are also a number of emergency cases when a tetanus vaccination is given as soon as possible:
- animal bites;
- open wounds due to injuries and frostbite;
- gangrene, ulcers that do not go away for a long time;
- before performing surgical operations (if there is no information about the availability of tetanus vaccinations).
To exclude the development of side effects after vaccination, parents are advised to start giving their child antihistamines in advance (2-3 days). A runny nose, cough and other signs of illness are a reason to postpone the vaccination until complete recovery.
Where is the vaccine given?
The tetanus shot is always given into a muscle, in places where there is no large amount of subcutaneous fatty tissue and the skin is quite thin.
For a child under 3 years of age, toxoid is injected into the lateral thigh, for adolescents and adults - into the shoulder or subscapular region.
Before the procedure, you should check the ampoule - it should have the appropriate markings. The presence of sediment and flakes at the bottom is not allowed.
How to behave after vaccination and is it possible to wet the injection site?
After vaccination, a person can lead a normal life, but babies sometimes experience undesirable effects. To prevent this, you must adhere to certain recommendations.
When your baby is given the injection, make sure that the body reacts normally to the toxoid. It is better to stay in the clinic for an hour - if allergies or other complications arise, doctors will promptly help you.
Is it possible to get a tetanus shot wet? The answer is yes. The child is allowed to wash; the injection site can be wetted, but not rubbed with a sponge or hand. It is also prohibited to swim in open water, as there is a risk of contracting an infection.
You cannot visit the bathhouse/sauna; you should refrain from walking in the fresh air and in places with large crowds of people for 2-3 days. Active physical activity is also undesirable.
Doctors advise immediately upon returning home to give the baby an antipyretic and continue taking antihistamines. All medications are prescribed for preventive purposes; medications should be dosed according to age. It is also recommended to drink plenty of fluids for 1-2 days.
How long does it last?
The tetanus vaccine does not have a permanent effect, so it must be repeated periodically to be effective. It is better to consult a doctor for how long its effect lasts. He will look at the timing of the toxoid administration and tell you the expected date of the next vaccination. The vaccine is given to adults for 10 years, but it is less effective in children.
READ IN DETAIL: What vaccination is given once every 10 years?
In what cases is it necessary to get vaccinated?
Regular tetanus vaccination helps maintain strong immunity against this disease.
Vaccinations are given to children and adults.
But prevention is especially important for children: undeveloped immunity, a high probability of injury, and frequent contact with dust and sand put the child at risk.
It is imperative to administer tetanus serum in the following cases:
- animal bite;
- injury resulting in disruption of the integrity of the mucous membranes or skin;
- burn;
- performing surgery in out-of-hospital conditions.
It is advisable to get vaccinated as quickly as possible: within the first five hours after injury.
Emergency vaccination scheme
There are situations when urgent, unscheduled administration of a vaccine is necessary. Before the injection, the person being vaccinated must sanitize the wound.
Emergency indications include:
- injuries;
- frostbite;
- burns 2-4 degrees;
- preoperative period, if there is no data on previous tetanus vaccinations;
- animal bites;
- long-term non-healing wounds (cuts) or ulcers;
- out-of-hospital births, abortions.
In these cases, the immunization schedule depends on whether the patient has been vaccinated previously. If the procedure has already been carried out, immunoglobulin (human) is used, since it carries a minimum of post-injection complications. Antitetanus serum can also be used.
If a person has not been vaccinated before, he is injected intramuscularly with toxoid (in one part of the body), and then (after half an hour) in another place with anti-tetanus serum.
The effectiveness of emergency vaccination lies in its urgency. It should take place as soon as possible - no later than 20 days from the moment of injury.
Contraindications
DPT vaccines are temporarily or absolutely contraindicated if the child has a progressive pathology of the nervous system or has had seizures without fever (afebrile). In this case, children are vaccinated with a vaccine without a pertussis component (PVC). Temporary and relative contraindications are exacerbation above 40 C, swelling and hyperemia at the site of vaccine administration over 8 cm in diameter).
There are practically no absolute contraindications to ADS and ADS-m vaccines, with the exception of severe allergic reactions to their previous administration.
Pathogen, mode of transmission and clinical manifestations of tetanus
The “indestructibility” of tetanus is explained by the special properties of its bacteria. The pathogen is normally present in the intestines of a sick person or animal, and then, along with excrement, ends up in water and soil. This increases the risk of infection when scraped or bruised skin comes into contact with the ground. A gram-positive rod, when exposed to unusual, extreme conditions for it, is transformed into spores that perfectly adapt to sub-zero temperatures and retain their properties even after many hours of boiling. Sticks can live in soil without losing their viability for 100 years.
Tetanus is transmitted by contact, for example, when soil gets into the wound. A splinter may penetrate your leg, or it may be injured by something sharp. The reasons may be frostbite of the extremities with a violation of the integrity of the skin. The disease can develop during illegal abortions, or when childbirth occurs without observing sanitation standards.
Infection occurs when dirt or dirty water comes into contact with injured skin or mucous membranes. Conditions in a deep wound promote the transformation of infected spores into active bacteria. Risk groups for tetanus include:
- young children (under 9 years old) who are often injured;
- newborn babies (violation of asepsis when cutting off the umbilical cord);
- representatives of professions associated with excavation work and increased injury rates: builders, loaders, diggers, railway workers;
- athletes;
- military.
You can become infected with tetanus very easily if there are cuts, wounds, or abrasions on your body. If dirt gets into the wound, after 1-2 weeks (sometimes the incubation period of the disease lasts up to 1 month), characteristic symptoms may appear, on the basis of which doctors make a diagnosis.
- The wound, even when healed, aches when it shouldn’t hurt anymore.
- Trismus – the patient has noticeable contraction of the facial muscles. It's hard to open your mouth.
- A “sardonic smile” occurs due to the distortion of facial features.
- Dysphagia develops, and it hurts the person to swallow.
- Tension of the muscles of the back of the head appears - rigidity.
- Headache, sweating, irritability.
These symptoms of tetanus do not always appear. There are often cases when the wound has completely healed, but symptoms still appear (muscle tension at the site of the wound).
In the presence of such clinical manifestations, doctors conclude that the patient has a tetanus infection; the described specific signs do not require confirmation by tests. There are several options for localizing the infectious process.
- Local tetanus. One or more muscle groups in the area of skin trauma are paralyzed. Characteristic of those who have been vaccinated against tetanus.
- Generalized tetanus. All muscle groups are susceptible to cramps. In such patients, the severity of the disease is divided into degrees:
- light;
- moderate severity;
- heavy;
- extremely difficult.
According to the type of entrance gate, the forms of the disease are:
- traumatic – after injuries, wounds, frostbite;
- inflammatory-necrotic – occurs in the presence of bedsores and where there is a disintegrating tumor;
- cryptogenic - forms at a healed wound site (a person may not even remember this), the gates of infection are not identified, the incubation period is extended to several months.
Advantages and disadvantages
The clinical effectiveness of tetanus toxoid is estimated at 100%. After the initial vaccination series, all vaccinated individuals have antibody titers above the level of protection. How long does the tetanus shot last? Protective antibodies in properly vaccinated people last for more than 20 years.
The decrease in the incidence of tetanus since the introduction of systematic vaccination confirms the effectiveness in preventing this disease. Tetanus toxoid is considered a safe drug.
Prevention of tetanus
Prevention of tetanus is, first of all, vaccination, which is carried out at certain periods (according to the vaccination calendar). Vaccination significantly reduces the likelihood of contracting tetanus, and even if the pathogen enters the body, there is a possibility that the disease will be local in nature or occur in a mild, harmless form.
Tetanus vaccine and how it works
The tetanus vaccine is a drug containing toxoid - a neutralized substance that is secreted by bacteria that enter the body, and which causes damage to the nervous system.
It is important to understand that a person who has had tetanus does not receive immunity against this disease, since the toxin produced during the reproduction of the tetanus bacillus is not enough to produce antibodies. Therefore, for vaccination, an toxoid is used, free of negative effects on the body, but in a dose sufficient to form immunity
Tetanus shot: when is it done?
Prevention of tetanus begins in childhood, when at three months the child receives the first dose of tetanus toxoid. It is usually included in the DTP, but a tetanus shot can also be given with another drug - it all depends on which tetanus shot is recommended by the medical institution. After the first vaccination, the second dose is administered 45 days later, and the third after another 45 days. Revaccination after the third dose should be carried out one year after the tetanus shot.
Instead of DPT, today they offer complex vaccines, which in many cases are easier to tolerate by children (Infantrix Hexa or Pentaxim). But vaccinations using these vaccines are usually paid for. Unlike DPT, which is given free of charge in the children's clinic to which the child belongs.
In order to maintain immunity against tetanus, according to the vaccination schedule, the child will need to be revaccinated at 7 years and at 14 years. In adulthood, a tetanus vaccine containing tetanus toxoid is given every 10 years.
In recent years, the opinion has gained some popularity that a child does not need to be vaccinated, since the likelihood of contracting many diseases is negligible
It is important to understand that the likelihood of becoming infected has become low precisely because the vast majority of people in our country and in many civilized countries have been vaccinated. In addition, tetanus is a disease that a person, and especially a child, can encounter at any time. After all, the causative agent of tetanus is able to maintain its viability while in the soil for 100 years
After all, the causative agent of tetanus is able to maintain its viability while in the soil for 100 years.
Adverse reactions after tetanus vaccination
Although the tetanus vaccine contains a neutralized toxin, some adverse reaction is inevitable when it enters the body. Moreover, a tetanus shot is one of the vaccinations that most often causes adverse reactions. It is possible to distinguish between “normal” and severe side effects after a tetanus vaccination.
“Normal” manifestations are considered local redness at the site of the tetanus injection, accompanied by swelling and pain. After a tetanus vaccination, many vaccinated people experience an increase in body temperature and changes in the reactions of the nervous system (some patients note a feeling of lethargy, others, on the contrary, are more excitable than usual). Gastrointestinal reactions are also common after a tetanus injection: vomiting, diarrhea, refusal to eat.
If a person who has received a dose of tetanus vaccine has a severe headache or excessive swelling at the site of the tetanus shot, they may have a severe reaction. Neurological manifestations in the form of seizures and short-term impairment of consciousness are also possible, but these cases after tetanus vaccination are extremely rare. Severe reactions are a recommendation to discontinue the course of tetanus vaccine.
Tetanus is a rather dangerous disease, which cannot be excluded even in those who have undergone vaccination courses
Therefore, in case of any injury, it is necessary to observe precautions and rules for treating wounds, and if you suspect that bacteria have entered the body, immediately seek help from a medical facility
Is it necessary to get a prophylactic tetanus injection?
Tetanus vaccination is included in the National Immunization Calendar of the Russian Federation. Therefore, it is necessary to install it. According to the approved schedule, children are vaccinated with a drug that simultaneously protects against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough - DPT. Immunization can also be carried out with the ADS vaccine, which does not contain the pertussis component.
The antigenic material provides protection against tetanus only temporarily. Therefore, revaccination of children and adults is periodically carried out. Although vaccination is mandatory, any person has the right to write a refusal to receive it. Some are given a medical exemption due to health reasons.
Touch Sensitivity
As Aspergers themselves state, their world is much louder than that of the average person. This is due to increased sensitivity to any stimuli, be it smells, touches, sounds, or visual images. It has been established that a similar phenomenon occurs in approximately 40% of people with AS. A hypersensitivity reaction can be triggered by anything: air temperature, bright light, food, clothing such as scratchy wool or labels on the underside, the touch of other people or large accumulations of them.
For example, when riding on public transport (subway, train, bus), Aspies sometimes use earplugs or headphones that play their favorite music. The mass of people, stuffiness and noise irritate them, unbalance them and lead to stressful conditions. Music helps to distract and calm down. When the situation becomes extremely tense, they have to leave it, go off the route to stand alone and enjoy the silence, and then continue on foot.
There are special types of therapy to cope with sensory problems. One of them is sensory integration therapy. Its essence lies in deliberate contact with unpleasant stimuli, occurring gradually and in doses. Thus, a person begins to get used to such collisions, no longer feeling irritability and panic.
It is very important for Aspergers to identify a method or strategy for neutralizing unpleasant impulses. For some, this solution is a small dose of alcohol.
According to Aspies, it muffles all obsessive sensations and helps reduce stress levels. Someone needs to retire for a while, wander through empty streets, someone swings on a swing.
Is there a fever after vaccination?
A slight increase in temperature after vaccination should not cause alarm. This is how the child’s body can react to the injected substance. The process of processing vaccination antigens and the formation of immunity to the disease occurs. Components are released that cause an increase in temperature.
It should be remembered that any manifestations are individual in nature. Adults and children may react differently.
If the temperature does not rise above 37.5 degrees and lasts no more than 3 days, there is no need to consult a doctor. This is considered a normal reaction of the body. Fever, as a reaction to vaccination, usually appears after 5-7 hours, in some babies the next day. If the temperature lasts longer and an increase is noted, you should seek help, as there may be other causes for this symptom.
Features of the tetanus vaccine: how long does the vaccination last?
Health > Be healthy > Features of the tetanus vaccine: how long does the vaccination last?
Tetanus is an infectious disease in which there are signs of toxicosis and convulsions that occur as a result of damage to cells of the nervous system by toxins.
The causative agent of the disease is considered to be Escherichia coli. Typically, the route of infection is the entry of a pathogenic microorganism into the mucous membranes or through damage to the skin.
Tetanus is a dangerous pathological condition that leads to the development of severe complications, often fatal.
Vaccination is considered a measure to prevent the disease. The features of such vaccination are discussed in this article.
Briefly about vaccination
Most often, tetanus occurs in children between three and seven years of age.
Tetanus bacillus usually enters the body through contaminated puncture and laceration wounds. The main cause of infection in children is considered to be leg injuries, when bare feet are injured, due to injury from prickly and sharp objects.
In infants, tetanus can develop as a result of infection of the umbilical cord when antiseptic rules are violated.
Tetanus is dangerous due to various complications, it often leads to death, therefore routine vaccination against the disease in children has been developed. To increase immune strength against this disease, children starting from three months are given tetanus toxoid.
Features of tetanus vaccination
Tetanus toxoid is contained in the following vaccines:
- Pentaxim
- DTP
- Tetraxim
- Infanrix
- Tetrakok
- Triaceluvax DPT
The vaccine is given three times, maintaining an interval of one and a half months. After this, revaccination is performed one year after the last vaccination. Thus, revaccination is done when the child is one year and six months old.
Vaccination is the key to your child’s health
According to the vaccination calendar, the next revaccination is carried out at seven and fourteen years. After this, vaccination must be done once every ten years.
Typically, the drug ADS-M is used for this.
Thus, the tetanus vaccine is valid for ten years.
The peculiarity of vaccination against this infection is the fact that it can be done unscheduled. Such emergency cases include injury, in which the integrity of the mucous membranes and skin is violated, with burns and frostbite, starting from the second degree.
In addition, tetanus prophylaxis is required after out-of-hospital births and abortions.
Indications for the use of the vaccine are animal bites, necrosis, gangrene, prolonged carbuncles and abscesses.
Usually 0.5 milliliters of vaccine is administered. If unvaccinated people or children are vaccinated, the injection is given in a volume of 1 milliliter.
The vaccination is done under the shoulder blade, inserting a needle deep into the skin. It is recommended to administer injections this way to adults and adolescents. For children, it is done intramuscularly in the anterior outer area of the thigh.
Recommendations from pediatricians
Usually, vaccination against the disease is tolerated well. However, experts say that in some situations, the tetanus vaccine can cause side effects such as fever and general weakness. A local reaction is possible - for example, hyperemia of the skin and pain in the injection area.
Ten years is the period of validity of a tetanus vaccination.
In addition, an allergic reaction in the form of anaphylactic shock, Quincke's edema, and rashes may occur. Seizures may also occur.
In such cases, it is recommended to take antipyretic medications and antihistamines. If more severe side effects occur, you should consult a specialist.
It is also important to remember that you must undergo a medical examination before vaccination. Weakened immunity can affect the development of adverse reactions, so vaccination should be carried out in completely healthy people
Before vaccination, you should consult with a specialist about possible such phenomena.
Pediatricians advise that after vaccination and revaccination, avoid contact with infected patients and not visit crowded places.
Another important rule in preparing for vaccination is the exclusion of introducing new foods into the child’s diet.
The vaccine is not allowed to be given during pregnancy, if you are allergic to substances included in the injection, or if there is an exacerbation of chronic diseases.
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Manifestations of vaccination reactions
After vaccination against any infection, vaccine reactions or so-called side effects often develop, since vaccination, especially one carried out for the first time in life, is always a serious stress - the body begins to synthesize antibodies in an enhanced mode. Despite the low reactogenicity of the tetanus vaccine, adverse reactions may occur. If vaccine reactions do not threaten the life of a child or adult, their occurrence is considered normal. As a rule, tetanus vaccination is easily tolerated by patients. Most often local reactions develop, which include:
- Hyperemia of the vaccine injection site;
- Infiltration (compaction) at the injection site;
- Formation of a “bump” at the injection site.
There is no need to panic about the occurrence of local manifestations from vaccination. These reactions resolve on their own within a few days. It is also possible that general symptoms may occur: fever, fatigue, lethargy and irritability, general weakness and drowsiness.
Explanation of common vaccine reactions:
- The vaccine hurts
Many patients, after receiving the vaccine, feel soreness at the injection site or say that the injection hurts. If you follow all the recommendations in the post-vaccination period, the pain from the tetanus shot disappears on its own within two to three days. The appearance of pain is due to the vaccine entering the fatty tissue, which slows down the entry of the drug into the blood and causes local inflammation (pain, swelling, hyperemia). In this case, it is recommended to take NSAIDs (ibuprofen, indomethacin).
- Arm hurts
The occurrence of pain in the arm is observed after injection under the shoulder blade or in the shoulder and is also explained by the penetration of tetanus toxoid into the subcutaneous tissue. The drug contains aluminum hydroxide, which provokes severe local inflammation, which will disappear after the vaccine is completely absorbed into the bloodstream. To speed up absorption, it is recommended to treat the injection site with troxevasin ointment, and to relieve pain, take NSAIDs.
- Formation of a “bump”
It is also explained by the partial penetration of the drug, in particular its component - aluminum hydroxide, into the subcutaneous tissue, in which the circulatory network is poorly developed and the vaccine is slowly absorbed. At the injection site, the formation of a “bump” in the subcutaneous and muscle layers is a kind of drug depot, allowing it to enter the bloodstream slowly and gradually, and not all at once, which promotes the formation of antibodies. If the entire dose of the drug immediately penetrates the blood, then all foreign cells will be destroyed, and the necessary antibodies will not have time to form. Complete absorption of the vaccine and the disappearance of the “bump” occur after one to two months.
- Swelling at the injection site
It is not considered a pathology and is explained by the development of local inflammation (redness, swelling, slight pain). Normally, swelling should not exceed 2 cm, and hyperemia should not exceed 8 cm.
- Temperature increase
A rise in temperature to 39.5 degrees, which lasts no more than three days, is considered normal. If there is a jump in temperature to 40 degrees or more, the reaction to the vaccine is regarded as hypertoxic, which requires immediate medical attention.
Other rare adverse reactions include the development of bronchitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis and changes in peripheral blood: leukopenia and agranulocytosis. Also, vaccination may be accompanied by disruption of the cardiovascular system, which is manifested by increased heart rate and reactions from the digestive tract: increased salivation, nausea, loose stools, vomiting. Rare side effects include seizures, partial paralysis, and aphonia (loss of speech).
Complications
After administration of the vaccine, complications may develop in two cases. In the first variant, complications are caused by a tendency to allergic reactions and develop in an immediate manner with the appearance of skin itching, skin rashes (red papules raised above the skin, merging with each other), Quincke's edema or the development of anaphylactic shock. Complications caused by delayed-type hypersensitivity manifest themselves in the form of intestinal dysbiosis and serum sickness.
The second option for the development of complications after vaccination against tetanus is associated with violation of the rules of asepsis during vaccination or with violation of the storage conditions of the vaccine:
- Abscess/cellulitis formation
Hyperemia, sharp pain, fluctuation at the injection site with a simultaneous high rise in temperature and the appearance of symptoms of intoxication.
- Neuritis
Develops when a vaccine is administered and accidentally enters a nerve. Accompanied by dysfunction of organs whose innervation is provided by the damaged nerve. Pain occurs under the shoulder blade, in the arm or thigh, and weakness appears when moving.
When and where to get a tetanus shot: schedule
For infants, three-time vaccination is used. The injection is given intramuscularly into the thigh
The baby does not yet understand the importance of immunization, so he just needs to be distracted, and then encouraged and praised
For preschool children and adolescents, the injection is given into the shoulder or under the shoulder blade. Parents are informed in advance about revaccination and receive written permission from one of them.
After adulthood, revaccination is necessary every 10 years.
If more than 5 years have passed since the last administration of the toxoid and severe contamination of the damaged skin has occurred, then an unscheduled anti-tetanus injection is necessary. Carrying out such a procedure also applies to planned pregnancy, or upcoming participation in hostilities.
This preventive precaution is carried out due to the fact that in many people the properties of toxoid disappear after 5 years
Vaccination calendar in Russia for children of the first year of life
Article on the topic: Herbal preparations for menopause
What not to do after vaccination
To avoid the development of post-vaccination complications and adverse reactions, you need to know and adhere to a number of restrictions after vaccination. The physician informs about all prohibitions before or after immunization.
Not recommended after vaccination:
- bathe;
- visit the bathhouse, sauna;
- sunbathe;
- eat exotic fruits, chocolate and other highly allergenic foods;
- drinking alcohol;
- walk in crowded places;
- rub the injection area, treat it with lotions, ointments or creams, and cover it with a band-aid;
- eat heavy food;
- contact with a person sick with a viral or infectious disease.
How quickly do tetanus spores spread throughout the body of an adult and a child?
The causative agent of tetanus is the tetanus bacillus.
It is one of the opportunistic microorganisms, since it is constantly present on the body of each of us or in the intestines, without causing disease. The bacteria's exotoxin, which it begins to produce when exposed to a favorable environment, is dangerous to humans. As a rule, tetanus bacteria are in an inactive state in the environment, taking on the form of spores. In this form, they easily tolerate temperature changes and persist for a long time in soil, dirt, and manure. Tetanus bacillus is a classic anaerobe that turns into a vegetative form at a temperature of at least -40 C and the absence of oxygen.
The ideal environment for the growth and reproduction of the microorganism is wound surfaces, especially deep puncture or incised wounds, crushed tissue, and burns. Tetanus can enter the body with unsterile instruments during surgical operations under aseptic conditions, criminal abortions, and poor-quality dental procedures.
Once in the body, tetanus spores transform into a vegetative form and begin to produce an exotoxin - tetanospasmin. The period of time from infection to the development of the first symptoms of the disease is called incubation and can last from three days to a month for different people.
The length of the incubation period depends on many factors:
- the amount and activity of tetanus bacillus, which entered the body through the wound surface;
- the presence of vaccine immunity in the patient and his condition;
- supporting forces of the body;
- age characteristics;
- concomitant diseases.
In children, the exotoxin begins to act much faster than in older patients, since less of it is needed to develop seizures. As a rule, it takes 8 to 14 days for the first signs of the disease to appear.
This time is quite enough for, if a potentially infected patient does not have a tetanus vaccination, to begin administering antitetanus serum, which will protect him from the likely progression of the pathological process.
Dangerous side effects and consequences
DTP is considered one of the most reactogenic vaccinations. A third of immunized people experience adverse reactions. The likelihood of post-vaccination complications is increased by the following factors: non-compliance with the rules of preparation and manipulation, ignoring the doctor’s recommendations, using a low-quality drug, hypersensitivity of the body.
After vaccination, you may experience fever, lethargy, headache, drowsiness, loss of appetite, redness and swelling of the injection area, and the formation of a lump . These are acceptable reactions indicating the beginning of the formation of specific immunity. The condition returns to normal without treatment after a few days.
Side effects of the vaccine include:
- severe pain in the injection area;
- allergies (urticaria, anaphylaxis, angioedema, rashes);
- inflammation of the injection site;
- heat;
- seizures;
- arthritis;
- loss of consciousness;
- tachycardia;
- disorders of the stomach and intestines.
To prevent the development of dangerous complications of vaccination, it is worth staying in the clinic for at least half an hour after the injection.
When do you get a tetanus shot?
What is the tetanus vaccination schedule? This is a mandatory vaccination included in the national calendar, which is given to all babies a few months after birth. At what age do children get a tetanus vaccine? The first meeting of the child in the case of routine vaccination against tetanus occurs at the age of 3 months. This is not the only protection during this period of a child’s life, since the vaccine in most cases is complex and also includes antigens against whooping cough and diphtheria (DTP). The event is planned in advance, so the mother and child are invited by a nurse to the clinic, where the doctor examines the baby and then sends her to the prevention room.
In order for the immune system to work better when encountering an infection, the vaccine must be administered at least three times. Therefore, according to the vaccination schedule, the next vaccination is given 1.5 months after the first, and then another one at 6 months.
How often do you get a tetanus shot? At 18 months, to consolidate the effect, a revaccination is carried out, the second at 6 years, then at 16 (sometimes the third revaccination takes place at 14 or 17 years, it depends on the vaccination schedule, it has changed a little over the past decades). After the third revaccination, a tetanus vaccine is given every 10 years. There are no age restrictions for her. Bacteria are found on almost all objects around us and in the soil; you can encounter an infection at any age, and after 50 complications there are many more due to the weakness of the body.
In addition to planned cases, there are also emergency tetanus vaccinations. When are they made?
- Before carrying out operations. When referring for surgical treatment, one of the mandatory points in the referral is the presence of vaccinations. If vaccination data is lost, the patient must be vaccinated additionally.
- Emergency vaccination is carried out for frostbite, burns and all types of wounds. It is done regardless of whether a routine tetanus vaccination has been carried out or not.
- An emergency tetanus shot is given when a dog is bitten. Wounds with deep penetration are dangerous due to numerous complications, the development of tetanus is one of them. To prevent an infectious disease, tetanus toxoid is urgently administered.
- Long-healing ulcers, ulcerative lesions of the extremities, gangrene of the fingers are an indication for additional vaccination.
- In what other cases should you get a tetanus vaccination? Women are vaccinated after home births and illegal abortions.
Rules for administering the vaccine
Where do they inject for tetanus? Vaccine administration (injection site) differs between adults and children. The vaccine is administered intramuscularly; if tetanus toxoid penetrates the subcutaneous fat layer, the development of an abscess or phlegmon cannot be ruled out.
For children under three years of age, the vaccine is administered into the upper third of the thigh along the front surface (in this place the fatty tissue is weakly expressed). For older children and adults, a tetanus injection is given in the shoulder area (deltoid muscle) or under the shoulder blade. It is extremely undesirable to inject tetanus toxoid into the buttock region, since the subcutaneous tissue is well developed in the buttock area, and the muscle layer is located deep. Injecting a vaccine into the buttock risks not only prolonged pain at the injection site, but also a high risk of complications.
Is it necessary to do
Some situations require unscheduled administration of a tetanus vaccine. As a rule, vaccination is carried out after injury.
This measure is extremely necessary to prevent the penetration of bacterial toxins into the body through wound skin surfaces, which leads to an increased risk of developing an infectious disease.
Unscheduled vaccination to prevent tetanus is carried out in the following situations:
- Dirt, manure, and particles of earth were found in the wound;
- the injury occurred as a result of a cut on glass, if a person stepped on a rusty nail or drove a wooden splinter under the skin;
- suffered frostbite;
- there was a clandestine abortion;
- when a woman is pregnant;
- there are foreign objects in the wound surface;
- there was an injury in which the damaged tissues were in close contact with a hard object or were sandwiched between them (for example, a fairly heavy structure fell on the leg);
- bitten by an animal or another person (similar cases have also been recorded).
The vaccine is also necessary if you receive a second or third degree burn, which puts the victim at increased risk of becoming infected with pathogenic toxins.
The vaccine must also be administered in case of injury with the formation of necrotic tissue. Since there is no possibility of supplying them with blood, the likelihood of infection increases. Such situations include gangrene, the formation of abscesses and ulcers, the healing of which does not occur for a long time.
In general, tetanus vaccination is given even when injured with a completely clean object..
This measure is necessary when the last vaccine was administered more than ten years ago.
The following drugs are used for unscheduled vaccination:
- adsorbed tetanus toxoid;
- purified concentrated equine anti-tetanus serum;
- human tetanus immunoglobulin;
- adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus toxoid with a reduced amount of antigens.
Before vaccination, a person is tested for the development of a reaction by administering a small amount of the drug. In the absence of characteristic manifestations, an injection is given to the drug with the introduction of the full volume of serum.
Warning for the unvaccinated
After all of the above, we can say with complete confidence that a tetanus vaccine is necessary. This is the only way to prevent the disease and all the complications it can bring.
In addition, depending on the dose, the drug will provide immunity against other diseases dangerous to children. The charts, developed by experts, are designed to cover the most prominent risks for each age group.
If in doubt, consult your general practitioner or pediatrician. Experts consider immunization for each case individually, and also warn whether there are any contraindications for delaying or not completing doses.
Features of childhood vaccination
It is necessary to give an emergency vaccination in case of injury to a child only after checking the data on the vaccination card, since further treatment tactics will be selected based on this information:
- when vaccinated according to all standard rules, an additional injection is not given;
- if the vaccination is done on time, but there is no last revaccination due to age, anti-tetanus toxoid is administered;
- if there are only 2 scheduled vaccinations, the duration of which is no more than 5 years, AS is also administered, over five years - a milliliter of toxoid and 250 IU of human immunoglobulin are used;
- if the child has not been vaccinated, IPCH (human tetanus immunoglobulin) is administered up to 5 months.
It is also important to pay attention to the nature of the wound, whether it is infected or not . The tetanus vaccination schedule will also depend on this.
What is the real cause of the disease?
The cause of the development of tetanus in the body is not the bacterium itself, but the toxins that it releases under certain conditions. Here's what American publications write about it:
“Under normal conditions, the entry of a microbe into a wound does not cause disease” (Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society, vol. 80, N3, p. 134).
“The body most susceptible to tetanus is one that is infected or weakened as a result of injury or surgery” (Journal “Foot Surgery” volume 23, N3, p. 235).
Thus, the tetanus bacterium can become only one of the factors in the occurrence of the disease, but not its main cause. If the bacterium itself caused the disease, there would be many more cases of tetanus, especially since it is so common.
What kind of disease is this
Tetanus is part of a group of neuroinfectious diseases that can affect not only the human body, but also animals.
According to statistics, people living in rural areas are more susceptible to the disease. This is due to the long-term presence of the infectious pathogen in the soil.
It is important to remember that tetanus cannot be transmitted through contact with a sick person. Infection, as a rule, is provoked by pathogens when they come into contact with an injured area.
It is not the microorganism itself that poses a particular danger to the human body, but its metabolic products, since they contain strong poison.
On average, the disease develops from three to fourteen days. However, the time frame may extend to 30 days. It is also worth noting that with a more distant location of the lesion from the central nervous system, the incubation period will be longer.
