Tetanus Vaccines Needed To Prevent Serious Illness

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tetanus infects around 42 percent of the United States' population each year.

"Tetanus is also sometimes called lockjaw and occurs as a result of contamination to a wound," said Dr. William J. Atkinson, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "About half the cases occur as a result of abrasions and injuries that occur in and around the house."

Infection with tetanus causes severe muscle spasms, leading to "locking" of the jaw so the patient cannot open his mouth or swallow, and may even lead to death by suffocation.

Tetanus is caused by a bacterium that is widespread in our environment. Whether you're playing ball, camping, gardening or fixing up your house, infection can strike even through a tiny pinprick or scratch to the skin.

Experts found that many tetanus cases occurred as a result of splinters, injuries and animal bites during outdoor activities.

"The danger of these minor cuts and wounds is that people don't know that they might be at risk for tetanus from those things and they don't seek a doctor's attention," said Dr. Susan Rehm, of the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases.

According to new date released by the CDC, there were 130 cases of tetanus in the United States between 1998 and 2000 with about 18 percent of reported cases fatal.

The report also found that adolescents and adults ages 18 to 40 accounted for more than half of tetanus cases.

"By getting a tetanus and diphtheria vaccine every 10 years on a routine basis, the risk is reduced," Rehm said.

Tetanus is often given in conjunction with a diphtheria booster that can easily spread from person-to-person. Diphtheria can often cause breathing problems, heart problems, paralysis and even death.

Contact your doctor for more information on how you can get vaccinated.

Common first signs of tetanus are a headache and muscular stiffness in the jaw followed by stiffness of the neck, difficulty in swallowing, rigidity of abdominal muscles, spasms, sweating and fever.

Symptoms usually begin 8 days after the infection, but may range in onset from 3 days to 3 weeks.