No one is insured against tetanus infection, because this disease can be caused by any damage to the skin and soft tissues, both deep wounds, and surface scratches, even insect bites. Given the high mortality due to the transfer of this bacterial pathology, every adult needs to be revaccinated every 10 years. The procedure uses tetanus toxoid, it can be administered in its pure form (AC-toxoid), and also in combination with other vaccinations (ADS, ADS-M).
What is tetanus toxoid for?
The vaccine in question is used for routine and emergency prevention of tetanus infection.
The first group of indications includes:
- Immunization of children. Since the age of 3 months, active vaccination of AS, ADS, DTP, or ADS-M babies with anatoxin is necessary. It allows you to prevent the primary incidence.
- Scheduled vaccination for adults. After reaching 17 years of age, tetanus toxoid is administered every decade.
- Education of full immunity. If a person aged 26 to 56 years old was vaccinated with combined toxoins (ADS, DTP, ADS-M), it is necessary to vaccinate only after tetanus (AS toxoid) 30-40 days after their administration. Repeat it should be in 0,5-1 year.
Emergency prevention is needed in the following cases:
- out-of-hospital births and abortions;
- extensive injuries, accompanied by a violation of the integrity of the mucous membranes and skin;
- abscess;
- frostbite;
- burns of any origin 2-4 degrees;
- necrosis of soft tissues;
- gangrene ;
- penetrating wounds, damage to the organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
- bites of animals, insects.
When receiving these injuries, it is important to apply to the medical institution for vaccination as soon as possible, because the incubation period of tetanus is only 20 days or less.
In what dose and how is tetanus toxoid administered?
For the correct formation of an immune response, 10 units of binding of the described toxoid are sufficient. Therefore, the prescribed dosage for vaccination is 0.5 ml of anatoxin.
In rare cases, the use of 1 ml of the drug.
The method of application is to perform a deep injection in the subscapular zone with rapid administration of the drug.
Side effects of tetanus toxoid
As a rule, this vaccine is transferred well, without causing any negative symptoms. Very rarely, the following side effects of tetanus toxoid may occur:
- slight malaise;
- hyperthermia;
- redness, swelling and pain in the skin puncture site;
- polymorphic rash;
- angioedema ;
- hives;
- exacerbation of allergic diseases.
These clinical events usually disappear on their own 24-48 hours after the injection.
Contraindications and complications of tetanus toxoid
Direct contraindications, completely excluding the possibility of vaccination with AS toxoid, are:
- increased sensitivity of the organism to the components of the solution;
- pregnancy.
Also it is impossible to inoculate with such diseases:
- immunosuppression;
- anemia;
- oncological pathologies;
- neurological and joint diseases;
- severe forms of immune response;
- strong local reactions;
- acute inflammatory or infectious ailments, their exacerbations;
- epileptic syndrome or epilepsy.
The introduction of the drug in these cases is fraught with complications:
- local vascular damage;
- polyradiculoneuritis;
- generalized vascular disruption.