Tetanus Vaccine

Clostridium tetani bacterium causes tetanus, which cannot grow in the presence of oxygen and produce spores which are difficult to kill. The sign of tetanus is seen within 3-21 days, with an average of eight days the risk of death increases with short incubation period. The tetanus toxin attacks the central nervous system. And other common forms are, first sign is spasm of the jaw muscles, followed by stiffness of the neck, difficulty in swallowing, and stiffness of the abdominal muscles and also includes fever, sweating, elevated blood pressure, rapid heart rate and spasms often occur.

The four combinations vaccines used to prevent diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis: DTaP, Tdap, DT, and Td. DTaP and DT are given to children till the age of seven and two Tdap and Td are given to older children and adults. A series of four doses are given at two, four, six, and 15-18 months of age and fifth shot is suggested at 4-6 years of age, unless the fourth dose was given late. Adults should take a booster dose of Td every ten years and also from the age 19-64 years who have never taken Tdap. DT is used as a substitute for DTaP for children who cannot tolerate pertussis vaccine as DT does not contain pertussis.

Td is a tetanus-diphtheria vaccine given to Adolescents and adults are given Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccine as a booster shot every 10 years. A single dose of Tdap is recommended for adolescents 11 or 12 years of age, or in place of one Td booster in older adolescents and adults age 19 through 64.

Tetanus vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American College of Physicians (ACP).

The common reactions are reactions at the injection site, such as soreness, redness, and swelling, especially after the fifth dose also other possible reactions may include fussiness, fever, and loss of appetite, tiredness, and vomiting. Use of Purified DTap is instead of DTP has decreased the reactions significantly.

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