What is a tetanus? A slight briefing about tetanus and if you want to take tetanus shot vaccination whenever you injured. So we will talk about that and we can clear out some myths about interest vaccinations. So let’s start so what is tetanus. Tetanus is a disease which has manifested with skeletal muscle contractions and also our autonomic nervous system may affected.
It may caused by a bacteria call as Clostridium tec-9 now this bacteria may found in many places. Tetanus is there in the environment on different surfaces and this bacteria resists boiling. It resists many disinfectants so you know that is why it becomes so difficult to kill this particular sport. So when the sport gets inside our body through different sources. And let me also tell you that it has found in the intestinal system of some animals. And that is why if an animal bites us. We also have to take tetanus shot during that kind of time.
When should you receive a tetanus injection after a cut?
So let’s talk about the incubation period of tetanus. Now what exactly is an incubation period incubation period means the time at which you get an injury from that time to the point where first symptom starts to appear that band gap is call as incubation period and that ranges from 3 to 21 days and on an average we take it as around 10 days.
So what happen is that people you know they asked some questions that I have injured around a month back. And should I now take a technician then it’s not necessary because the incubation period has already done and may that person has already immunized and that is why that person did not develop any symptoms.
How do I know if I should take a tetanus shot?
Now let us also talk about two different types of wounds. Sometimes a person get a clean wound right like you are chopping some vegetables. And you get a cut with the knife or with blade so that is a clean wound. Now suppose a person has met with an accident a road traffic accident and the person’s whole arm has got abraded and the wound is a very dirty wound so in that case also if the person has received a primary immunization and the person has vaccinated within ten years within the last ten years. Right then the person does not need a tetanus toxoid and does not meet a vaccination but the person who is having a dirty wound that person will have to require a tetanus immunoglobulin which is a passive vaccination so that may require now sometimes.
You know you have some people who come just to come to you and say that I am not sure if I have got a tetanus vaccination and I don’t know about my immunization status so if a person does not know of hills of heart immunization status then at that point of time what you need to do you will definitely give the tetanus toxoid to that person and they will receive two shots of tetanus at four weeks apart so that was about normal.
When should people take a tetanus shot?
Now let’s talk about vaccinations now vaccination is given in the primary form and it is given to everyone because vaccination is you know because tetanus is 100% preventable by vaccination now the primary vaccination is given you’re in infancy it is given at six weeks 10 weeks 14 weeks and after that, a booster is given at one and a half years of the village and again a second booster at five years of age so during this time the vaccination which we are giving is in the form of DTP that is this theory tetanus and pertussis so this is given three other and tetanus toxoid is given during this final time now after five years of age we again give Tdap at ten use of it.
Now, what is Tdap? Tdap tetanus and acellular pertussis so that is what we are giving a ten year of age now once the person has received this primary immunization the person is safe from tetanus for another ten years of life. Now what happens is if a child has injured at around seven years of age or eight years of age and if that baby has already received his or her primary immunization then that baby does not require a tetanus shot even if the baby injured. And if a person who has immunized and gets an injury at around 15 years of age or 16 years of age again that person does not need a vaccination because that person has already vaccinated at ten years of age.
What if you don’t receive a tetanus injection after a metal cut?
Bacteria that is Clostridium Tecna causes tetanus this bacteria definitely gain entry in our body from wounds. Now the symptoms it can happen in two forms one it happens locally and others it could generalized now if the symptoms they appear locally it means it is a mild form of the disease and usually, if suppose the person injured in this region then all the tightness and contraction will see in this region but in generalized cases that is a severe form the this bacteria it travels from the nerves like you all can see and it enters the nervous system over here now once the bacteria has entered over here in our system then it will lead to the tightness and contractions of the muscle all over the body.
Sometimes what happens is all the muscles of the jaw and neck have affected and all these muscles have gone into contraction and then you know it is appearing as a smiling face which is call as Risus Sardonicus. You can see the whole body has gone into spasm and this body is in the form of a bow, it is arching like this and this is call as opisthotonos. So these are some really severe cases of tetanus and apart from this some other general symptoms include fever, high blood pressure, difficulty in swallowing sweating and that’s all okay so that was all about the clinical features and manifestation of tetanus.
Is it really necessary to take a tetanus shot every ten years?
suppose the person has received primary vaccination and the person has also received basic vaccinations at ten years of age and that person gets hurt at around 22 or 23 years of age then that person should get a tetanus toxoid again because that person has caused more than ten years so you do not need a tetanus vaccine if you get hurt at less than 10 years of gap but if a person gets hurt at around 21 years of age or 22 years of age and that person did not receive another dose of tetanus then definitely that person needs to be immunized so what happens is if a person gets infected now what happens if a person gets injured but if a dog bites or if a cat bites regarding technical sedation the person does not need thickness if the person has all the primary vaccinations.
Can A Pregnant Women Take A Tetanus Shot
Now let’s talk about this once a woman get pregnant and the woman receives tetanus vaccination. And that tetanus shot which a woman receives at four weeks apart that is for the baby not for the mother that tetanus vaccination is for the babies to prevent neonatal tetanus. And if that pregnant lady I suppose after delivering a baby she did as she injured or something happens then again that woman will not require any shot of tetanus vaccination because she has already immunities to while she was pregnant. So I hope you all have got a clearer picture as to when to take a tetanus shot and when to not so.
Tetanus shot side effects
It’s critical to understand. That the danger of issues from tetanus is significantly higher than the chance of problems from tetanus vaccination. Tetanus cannot contracted with a tetanus vaccine. However, the tetanus vaccination might occasionally produce minor adverse effects. These might include:
- Injection site discomfort, redness, or edema
- Fever
- Headaches or muscle pains
- Fatigue
- Vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea
- Appetite loss
- Fussiness in infants and young children
- Small children may occasionally experience more significant adverse effects from the DTap vaccination, such as:
- Seizures
- Fever of more than 105 degrees
- 3 hours or more of inconsolable weeping
- Swelling of the whole arm or leg where the injection administered
- A severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is also extremely rare, although it can occur within minutes of receiving the vaccine. Symptoms could include:
- Flushing, itching, or swelling of the skin
- Hives
- Breathing difficulties or other respiratory issues
- Swelling of the mouth and throat
- Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps
- Dizziness, low blood pressure, and an irregular pulse
- Fainting
Basically, if a person has basic immunization against tetanus. The person does not need a tetanus shot as long as it is within the range of 10 years. If a person has yes if a person did receive a tetanus shot for ten years but I can have more than 10 years. And then the person may injured then the person will have to take a tetanus shot.
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