All about Tetanus......

Reference - Department of Health (March, 2010), South Australia, Tetanus
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=303&id=1659

Tetanus is a serious illness, which can be fatal. It is caused by the tetanus bacteria (germs) getting into a wound or cut and producing a toxin (poison) which affects the nervous system.

Spores of these bacteria are in the soil world wide. Few people in Australia get tetanus because of the protection given by immunisation but tetanus kills many hundreds of thousands of people world wide every year, many of them very young babies.

ALERT!
Deep cuts and bites are likely places for tetanus bacteria to grow but they can grow in a small clean wound. If a child or adult has an injury which cuts the skin, it is important to check as soon as possible whether the person is fully immunised against tetanus.

Who is at risk?

• Any person who has NOT been immunised against tetanus is at risk.
• In Australia, adults are affected by tetanus more often than children either because they have not been immunised or because the protection they originally had from immunisation has decreased as they have grown older. Approximately 10 adults per year are diagnosed with tetanus in Australia.
• Newborn babies can get tetanus if the mother has not been immunised, often after unsterile treatment of the umbilical cord stump.

What you can do

• Make sure that all family members are fully immunised and get a booster if a person has a deep or dirty wound.
• A person with tetanus will need hospital treatment.
• The person will be watched closely for any breathing problems and given medicine to control the spasms. The person will often need to be in hospital, in intensive care, for several months.

Protecting your family from tetanus

• Immunisation works! In World War 2 all Australian Servicemen were immunised against tetanus and none developed tetanus (unlike previous wars).
• Because tetanus germs can grow in even small wounds, the only protection is a full course of immunisation for all the family.
• The first 3 doses (the "primary course") are given at 2, 4 and 6 months with the whooping cough (pertussis) and diphtheria vaccines.
• Booster immunisations are needed to keep up immunity - boosters are recommended for children before they start school (4-5 years) then around 15 years of age. If the person has had a full course of immunisations, one extra booster around 50 years of age is recommended unless the person has had a booster dose in the previous 5 years.
• Any adult who has not had 5 doses of the vaccine should have the vaccine at any age.
• Adults born in other countries may not be fully immunised. They should be encouraged to be immunised. Adults as well as children need protection against tetanus.

Issues on HIV in Brunei (from Borneo Bullettin dated June 9th, 2010 Wednesday)

HIV cases still a concern in Brunei

By Siti Hajar

Even though government bodies as well as private institutions have taken steps in promoting awareness against promiscuous activities, cases of HIV/AIDS are still being recorded, with high chances that other members of the general population may unknowingly get infected with the deadly disease.

Ever since the establishment of surveillance in 1986, 56 local cases have been recorded by the end of 2009 with an additional three cases this year.

"You're talking about human nature," said Dr Hajah Ramlah, Director-General of Health Services, when taking into consideration that the Sultanate highly values conservative practices.

"A big majority of the cases know that HIV/AIDS is the result of indulging in high-risk behaviour," she added.

"We can give so much information (on HIV/AIDS) but it is up to the individual to practise it."

A number of the cases have succumbed to the deadly virus and only 20 carriers of the virus are still being monitored and treated by the Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile, according to Dr Ahmad Fakhri, a medical officer under the Disease Control Division, the concentrated age range for HIV/AIDS is between 20 and 29 years. Some cases have also seen senior citizens as well as newborn babies who have contracted the virus from either or both parents during pregnancy.

"This is probably just the tip of the iceberg," he said referring to the number of cases and urged those who have placed themselves at risk to get tested. He also added that most cases are not aware that they were carriers of the disease until they were screened for HIV/AIDS or after they consulted a medical practitioner when they fell ill.

HIV, or 'Human Immunodeficiency Virus', infects cells of the human immune sys tem and destroys or impairs their function. Infections due the virus results in the progressive deterioration of the immune system, thus leading to 'Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome' or AIDS, leaving the individual more susceptible to a wide range of infections.

An estimated 33.4 million people worldwide were recorded living with the disease with an approximate two million deaths by the end of 2008.