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.