Tetanus is a bacteria and is found everywhere, particularly in soil and in the guts of animals. If a person has a cut that comes in contact with the earth, they could be exposed to tetanus. If the wound is very dirty and deep, the risk of tetanus increases. People have caught tetanus from wounds as small as a prick from a rose thorn. Bad wounds or burns need extra treatment, even if tetanus vaccinations are up to date.
One of the earliest signs of tetanus is stiffening of the jaw muscles, which is why tetanus is often referred to as lockjaw. Symptoms progress to include stiffness and pain, fever, sweating, high blood pressure and periods of irregular heartbeat. Muscles spasms, which may be severe, are also likely to occur and may last 3 to 4 weeks. Recovery from tetanus may take months. Complications can lead to respiratory and heart problems, spinal and long bone fractures, infections, blood clots and pneumonia.
About 11% of people who get tetanus die from the disease. Those aged 60 years and older, and those who are unvaccinated, are most likely to die from tetanus. Your child can be immunised against tetanus as part of a vaccination that also covers diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, hepatitis B and Hib disease. There are also two combination vaccines of either: tetanus and a smaller dose of the diphtheria vaccine, or tetanus and a smaller dose of diphtheria and whooping cough for people over 7 years of age. When is tetanus vaccine given?Tetanus vaccine is given at age 6 weeks, 3 months, 5 months with boosters at 4 years and 11 years of age.
Adult boosters are given at 45 and 65 years of age. In 2008 the adolescent/adult vaccine given at 11 years of age changed from the combination of tetanus, diphtheria pertussis and polio vaccine (dTap-IPV) to the combination of tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (dTap). This extends the whooping cough protection for children into adolescence and reduces the number of injections needs for protection.
How good is the protection offered by the tetanus vaccine?About 95% of people who have had the full course of the vaccine are protected against tetanus.
What about side effects?
Local reactions such as redness or swelling around the injection site can occur and may last for a few days. Other reactions are uncommon but some people get a short bout of headache or tiredness, feel unwell for a short time after the vaccine, or get muscle aches or a temperature. Very rare problems following tetanus injection include nerve damage in the nerves going to the arms or legs. As with all vaccines, a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can very rarely occur. What if my child has missed out on the tetanus vaccination?If a child has missed out on this vaccine, it is likely that they have missed out on some or all of the other components of the vaccine (i.e. diphtheria, whooping cough). Talk to a health professional. Children over the age of 7 and adults can have a course of three doses of the Td vaccine (see under diphtheria). At least one month should be left between each dose.
Vaccines are prescription medicines. Talk to you nurse, doctor or midwife about possible risks and the benefits of immunisation. |
