Posted on 08/27/2017 12:44:13 PM PDT by Yaelle
I am praying for her.
Yes, go to the health dept. Or, a Walgreens probably gives them.
Tetanus is a bit weird.
Cases are VERY rare nowadays. The US recommendation for new vaccination booster is 10 yrs. The Brits for quite some time said if you got a booster in your early 20s, you were good for life. The antibody level in the body is hard to measure but residual immunity does exist for people who were vaccinated in their 20s and not since.
Standard procedure in all ERs for any wound is a booster, if you do not remember or are sure it has been 10 yrs.
Ex military essentially never get it, because they are sure to have been vaccinated in their early 20s.
The few cases typically seen are nursing home very elderly. The residual immunity has just faded too much from 20s to 80s.
It sounds like your friend had some immunity but there was soooo much injected bacteria that it was overwhelming it. A booster and antitoxin should take care of it.
Or get a tetanus shot.
My Dad contracted tetanus and lockjaw when he was in basic training in the Army Air Corps toward the end of WWII. He was very sick and lost a lot of weight, but is still going strong 70+ years later. He will be 91 in November. Praying for her recovery.
Yes, you should be able to get the tetanus combo at Walgreens. That’s where I got my last booster.
gosh, Yaelle, sounds a bit more advanced, then. She has two kids? so she'll fight to the core to beat this, and she'll probably have doctors that will take it as a personal challenge to beat it, too. Keep her close in your prayers and I'll say one, too. You're a good friend for wanting to help her some way.
Prayers for your friend.
Prayers for her successful treatment and full and speedy recovery !
yes.
Epidemiology
Endemic worldwide
Found in soil, dust, human and animal feces
Estimated up to 1 million cases/year worldwide
50% in neonates
80% in Africa and Asia
Low rate of immunization
Agricultural areas
Contact with soil and animal excrement
U.S. case rates low compared to worldwide
From 2001-2008 there were 233 cases reported to CDC
Most cases in individuals over age 65 years
Mortality/Morbidity
40% mortality, overall mortality is 45%
Mortality rate much higher if mechanical ventilation required
I withdraw my yes. All tetanus shots come with at least one other vaccine. I got a booster after chain sawing my hand. I didn’t realize there was another vaccine in it.
Oh My...Big Prayers up for your friend, Dear Yaelle.
Wow. I didn’t know that was possible. Long ago, a doctor told me that tetanus cases were most likely to come from deep wounds that occurred where cattle had defecated (pastures, around barns and the like).
Big thanks for all your tetanus survival stories and of course for your prayers. When I next hear how she is doing I will post.
Anyone going to the tropics should consider getting a tetanus vaccine. She was just sitting on a beach!
Prayers from here.
I don’t know anyone who’s had it. I will say a prayer for your friend and her family.
We have something in common, neither am I:) (a doctor) I think I may have gotten a stand alone tetanus the last time. I also think I am good for the rest of my life. I had lots of everything in my twenties and then a couple of tetanus since then.
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