Tetanus vaccine...

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Vicky RVN — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:13:35 GMT

Hmm thanks for that Gillian, i always though it was from bites! At least it's easier to avoid in poo...just wear gloves!

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:49:45 GMT

Mainly - but it is pretty common everywhere to be honest. It is just far more likely to survive and multiply in dirty, anaerobic conditions.

Plagiarised from the BBC health page about it:

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Tetanus is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani, which is found in soil and animal manure. Spores of the bacteria are picked up when a wound is contaminated by, for example, garden soil. The wound may go unnoticed and the infection may not seem severe, but the bacteria release a poison called a neurotoxin that attacks the nervous system and causes problems such as muscle spasm.

Anyone who has a contaminated wound may develop tetanus. Farmers and those working with soil are at increased risk.

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So a bite wound is unlikely to contain it - but poo might!

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Kim Buckley — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:58:52 GMT

Isn't tetanus caught from soil infected with the bacteria?

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:02:02 GMT

[quote user="kezzathecat"]

Needless to say later on that night I had a raging headache, sore jaw and a stiff neck

I survived needless to say but it was a bit of a coincidence that I had those symptoms

[/quote]

The bacterium has to multiply and then produce the toxin before symptoms are felt - therefore the minimum incubation period is about a week. But it can be as much as a few months!

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Kerry Spain — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:11:38 GMT

I got told if you work in a high risk job, so doing what we do, we should have a jab every 5 years, recently I got informed that we shouldn't need one again until injured. Just as well really as the last time I had one was about 16 years ago LOL

I can remember a tetanus greyhound pup we had hospitalised years ago and it had crapped in its kennel and got poop stuck all over its feet. I went in to clean it out and it jumped up and scratched my legs quite badly. I cleaned all the tetanus infected poo out of my wounds and asked the vet if I should go to the doctors to get boostered. He laughed at me which made me feel silly and said that I was at no risk as it wasn't a deep penetrating wound!!

Needless to say later on that night I had a raging headache, sore jaw and a stiff neck

I survived needless to say but it was a bit of a coincidence that I had those symptoms

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Vicky RVN — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:30:57 GMT

Really! I suppose we're not as high risk as people like RSPCA inspectors or kennel workers dealing with immigration dogs but still!

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Nick Shackleton — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:57:19 GMT

I think I also recall that I was told that as a VN we aint in at risk group of workers!

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Anonymous — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 10:17:37 GMT

I had a tetanus the other day. I was unsure too at the time. The nurse told me that she thinks I'd already had five previously (notes from my previous doctor weren't very clear!?**!!!!) but that she'd just give me one again as it wouldn't hurt.

But like others who have posted; I too was told that once you'd had 5 that was it, you'd never need more in a life time.

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Hannah25uk — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:53:33 GMT

Depends on who's giving the injection i find. Mine was fine just ached a bit for 24 hours following.

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Vicky RVN — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:35:25 GMT

Hmm if you need them doing 4 times then i won't be covered enough i presume!

But if it's painful i don't want it, i'm a wimp too!

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Fiona Leathers — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:37:06 GMT

I was getting warfarin injections for a long time and they gave you them in the belly cos it didn't hurt so much.......f**king liars it was agony!!! Never again!!

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Sal the 1st — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:04:24 GMT

yes i am a wimp I admit it

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:59:44 GMT

Maybe you are ust a wimp??? He! He!...... joke! Just make sure you take the pain relief.................................

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Sal the 1st — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:57:48 GMT

I dont know why but the tetanus jab in my opinion is the most painful of any vaccine I have ever had - or maybe I am just a wimp

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Sandra Taylor RVN, MBVNA — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:55:44 GMT

I had one about 4 yrs ago and was told to come back in 10yrs

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Sal the 1st — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:23:29 GMT

I had this discussion with GP last year after being mangled by a ferret - basically because I didnt want another tetanus. Initially the advice was every 10 years unless you were in a high risk occupation (ie us) and then it should be repeated every 5 years. The current advice is every 10 years for a maximum of 4 shots and then you dont need anymore. But maybe it has changed again since?

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Fiona Leathers — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:14:06 GMT

I always thought it was every 10 years & once you'd had 4 then you didn't get anymore.

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 18:32:37 GMT

They are tetnus obsessed. Few years back l was having my checkup for the pill. The nurse said something about tetnus and l said ohh about 6/7 years and before l could blink she said walloped me in the *** with the vaccine. FFS! just as well l am well padded

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Nick Shackleton — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:10:34 GMT

I've had two nasty bites in my 12 year career, one was a dog on my head, the other was 15 bite wounds from a cat. Both times I asked at the hospital about Tetanus boosters and got todl there is not need

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Donna France — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:03:20 GMT

Hiya,

Its seems doctors all give differnet advice.

I was bitten by a dog a little while ago and went to the Docs to have the bite looked at, ended up having it debrided and cleaning up.

I was given a tetanus jab, the nurse tutted at the fact I as a VN had only had a booster 10yrs previously, I did explain that I had enquired how often I should have it, and was told I was fine because I had had 5 injections over my life! (and would only need it in such situations like a bite)

The practice nusre didnt agree and told me I needed regular boosters, but im still unsure what she meant by regular!

Im sure she stuck the needle in slightly harder because I questioned her..ouch!

Just realised my post isnt actually much help...sorry!!

Donna

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Vicky RVN — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:55:51 GMT

Ta for that! I'll find out how many vaccs i've had. I had the tetanus, diptheria and polio when i was 16.

Re: Tetanus vaccine...

Hannah25uk — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 13:54:29 GMT

I had a booster the other day, and they say after 5 injections you should need anymore, the schedule depends on what you had as a baby. This link might explains things better than i can. They also don't vaccinate against Tetanus only now it comes with Diphteria and polio.

http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Tetanus-Immunisation.htm