Re: Re: Tetanus booster

[Guest guest]

> When she recommended the tetanus shot after each accident, she may not

have realized just how frequently I get injured. : - ) <

From a previous post on tetanus...

" ...studies have found repeatedly that antibody levels remain at levels high

enough to afford protection for very long periods of time even without

booster shots; several have noted that World War II veterans still had

protective levels up to twenty-one years after vaccination. A study done in

Denmark concluded that primary vaccination in infancy and a booster shot

five years later will secure continuous protection until about the age of

twenty-five, and that more frequent booster increase the risk of

hyperimmunization (and hence, reactions). " (_Take Charge Of Your Child's

Health_ by Dr. Wootan.)

> I did ask why they give tetanus shots every ten years as well as after

accidents. Seems to me if they're not anymore reliable than that, then why

waste people's money giving them every ten years if they're only going to

have to readminister them after an accidient. <

With tetanus you are dealing with a potent toxin that binds with nerve

cells. The idea with the boosters is to keep enough antibodies in your

system to be able to neutralize the toxin before it binds with the nerve

cells. It's not a one shot takes care of you for life type of thing

(neither are vaccinations) but there is evidence that a booster every ten

years isn't necessary. Myself, I'm comfortable getting the shot at the time

of injury (assuming it's a risky injury) IF I haven't had one in the past

ten years. Otherwise I wouldn't.

>As a kid, I was always told that I'd have to get a tetanus shot if I

stepped on a rusty nail. I wonder if rust harbors more of this bacteria

than other objects?<

Puncture wounds are more risky. If the nail scratched you and you bled (or

forced it to bleed) sufficiently to flush it out, great. But if you've ever

had a puncture wound or dealt with a child's puncture wound, you know they

don't bleed. My son was bit by a cat and I tried and tried to get it to

bleed and it didn't beyond one little drop. That was at night before bed.

By the next morning we could see the infection heading up the vein in his

arm - 8 inches. Later a farming neighbor told me that they always sucked

the blood out of their kids' puncture wounds, " just as if it was snake

bite. " Next time, I'll do that. : ) Anyhow, with a puncture wound that

hasn't been flushed out, you've got 1) a greater risk of the tetanus being

present as the wound wasn't flushed, 2) greater likelihood of dead tissue

present as it wasn't flushed out, and 3) an anaerobic environment within

which the dormant tetanus can come forth.

From a previous post:

" Tetanus is anaerobic and extremely hardy. It goes dormant until conditions

are right for it. What tetanus needs is an anaerobic environment (puncture

wounds for example) and what it likes is debris or dead tissue. "

HTH,

Rhea