A tetanus shot: vaccine and prevention

When they say "tetanus shot", you mean or vaccine or tetanus toxoid. These two drugs need to differentiate, because they have different function and are used in different situations.

Surprisingly, not everyone understands what is needed and what works tetanus shot. The immune system is able to "remember" threats (bacteria, viruses, toxins), and most importantly – to develop methods of dealing with them. It doesn't work with all diseases, but a significant part of itself can be protected, if pre-to introduce an organism from pathogens.

When talking about the dangers of this disease, primarily referring to the destruction of nerve tissue of toxins that produces the tetanus Bacillus. But if you give the immune system an opportunity to "practice" neutralized the toxin, even if it is to meet the real, you can easily and without complications to cope with it.

Therefore, a vaccine that make both children and adults that contain tetanus toxin. Often use complex vaccine, which also includes other components that protect the body against diphtheria and pertussis (TDAP) and other diseases (Pentaxim). Adult vaccination against pertussis is not required, so use the simplified vaccine – ADS.

When you need to be vaccinated against tetanus?

There are clearly defined rules of vaccination. In the first place they determine in what age should I start vaccinations. In the General case, apply the following scheme:

• 3 months from birth.
• 4.5 months.
• 6 months.
• 1.5 years.
• 6-7 years.
• 14-15 years old.

At the same time, if the immunity against tetanus has not, to start forming it's never too late. Adults and children aged 5 years immunized according to this scheme:

• At the reference.
• 45 days.
• In 6-9 months.

But it is better not to risk your health, and take the full course of immunization as early as possible. This is especially true of children, who are injured more often, and carry tetanus is much worse.

Where do tetanus?

It is also important not only when to get vaccinated against tetanus, but also where. One of the main conditions of the formation of the immune system is a gradual absorption into the blood. If it goes all at once, the body neutralizes it and will not have time to develop antibodies. Therefore, the vaccine is administered only in large well-developed muscle, where they are absorbed into the bloodstream gradually.

Because of the peculiarities of the drug at the injection site may receive a lump, swelling, redness, swelling, sometimes it hurts or itches. Can also be common symptoms are: fever, lethargy, drowsiness, irritability, lack of appetite, indigestion and so on.

According to statistics, about one third of people after vaccination against tetanus complain of side effects. In most cases they are not dangerous and go away.

To alleviate the condition, you can take antipyretics, analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, to lubricate the injection site absorbable ointments. This does not affect the formation of immunity.

To consult a doctor if necessary:

• The temperature rose above 38.5-39 degrees.
• On the site of the injection formed a lump more than 5 cm or an area of redness greater than 8.
• Symptoms persist after 3-4 days after the injection.

Really dangerous complications are rare. Most often we are talking about individual reactions or undiagnosed diseases in time. To reduce the likelihood of complications before grafting conducted a consultation with the doctor: pediatrician, physician or immunologist.

When vaccination should not be done?

In some cases, a tetanus shot postpone or cancel altogether:

• All diseases in acute stage and exacerbation of chronic.
• Any kind of immunodeficiency.
• Pregnancy.
• Intolerancecomponents'.
• Complications after similar vaccinations.

If possible, a tetanus shot make after the state stabiliziruemost.

As with any vaccine load on the immune system, making it should be in good health. If you feel unwell, it is better to delay for 1-2 days. When more serious conditions are responsible for the medical exemption is not for a while.

Emergency prophylaxis of tetanus

Now in developed countries, neonatal tetanus ceased to be a serious threat. The cases of morbidity record is truly rare. Although helped to achieve this just vaccinations, many began to abandon them. First of all it concerns adults who were last vaccinated in high school and since then have not received the booster vaccination.

For such people, any wound, which hit the dirt is a threat. Fortunately, in this case there is the so-called emergency prevention. It is carried out to all the people who seek care for injuries, wounds and scratches where dirt and frostbite, burns, animal bites and so on.

Emergency prevention is the introduction into the organism of tetanus toxoid containing specific immunoglobulins. This drug can be of two types:

• Horse. More common because it is easier and cheaper to obtain. But, like any foreign protein, has a relatively high risk of allergic reactions.
• Human. Better tolerated, so children and weak and prone to allergic reactions people try to enter this medicine.

In any case, after doing a skin test, injecting a small amount of the drug under the skin. If within half an hour there is no obvious skin reactions, the victim is already doing a full injection of serum.

Prevention is quite effective, it helps to avoid infection and the onset of the disease, but any foreign protein is a potent allergen and can cause severe adverse reactions. So much safer to make the necessary vaccinations in a timely manner.

Hope we answered your question, what is vaccination and emergency prevention of tetanus and when it is made. Now you understand the difference between routine vaccination and emergency vaccination and understand it better.