The causative agent of the disease is the tetanus bacillus, which can persist in the external environment for years and survive at a temperature of 90 ° C for 2 hours. Vaccination against tetanus is mandatory, so it is important to know when it is done. In this article we will answer this question. But first consider how this life-threatening disease arises.
Ways of infection with tetanus are:
- damaged skin (lacerated or punctured wounds), often microtraumas (for example, injections with a sharp object, thorns);
- places of bites by animals and poisonous insects;
- umbilical cord in neonates;
- damaged gastrointestinal tract;
- gangrene, tissue necrosis, abscess;
- places of burns and frostbite.
More often tetanus is sick children from 3 to 7 years, because they are more active, mobile, many fall and get various wounds, abrasions. And their immunity to this disease is weaker than in adults.
When is tetanus vaccinated?
The drug tetanus toxoid - ADS or ADS-M (this is the so-called anti-tetanus drug), is made intramuscularly. Children are vaccinated from 3 months. After this, the inoculation is administered three times every 45 days. Babies make the drug in the thigh muscle. When the child is 18 months old, they put the fourth inoculation against tetanus, and then according to the vaccination schedule - at 7 and 14-16 years. On the day of injury and up to 20 days (exactly how long the incubation period may last)
The frequency of vaccination against tetanus in adults is 10 years, starting from the age of 14-16 years, i.е. in 24-26, then 34-36 years, etc. With each re-introduction of an anatoxin, its dose is 0.5 ml. If an adult was given a tetanus vaccination, he must know how much it works, and remember the year of vaccination. If a person forgot when he was vaccinated last time, then tetanus toxoid is injected twice in 45 days, and then put another vaccine after 6-9 months after the second dose.