Tetanus Facts

by Jan Gurley, MDAs a whooping cough epidemic hits California, you may be asking yourself, “hey, weren’t we all vaccinated for that?” Even as the headlines imply a Victorian-level outbreak of hacking and coughing, perhaps you’re looking around and wondering where, exactly, this epidemic is located. And what you should know about whooping cough to protect you and yours.Here are some fun, weird, and sometimes worrying tidbits to know about whooping cough. Pass them on to friends and co-workers – because an epidemic of knowledge is a good thing to spread around:1. Hey, you got vaccinated, and your kids did too – doesn’t that mean you’re protected? Um, no. Pertussis (the medical name for whooping cough) vaccines are actually kind of puny, and don’t last that long. Strange, but true. The original pertussis vaccine schedule was designed to protect the most vulnerable – the very young.So, to get a good baseline level of protection, your baby gets many pertussis shots, one after the other. But even after a solid start of many boosting shots, the pertussis vaccines are only effective for most people for about 5 years. That’s why your kid gets another booster around kindergarten. So before recent changes in recommended vaccinations, most of us lost our solid baby-hood protection around age 10-11. Hence the recent outbreaks. But now, because of outbreaks that are appearing across the country, the CDC has recommended that a pertussis shot be included in every tetanus booster given to every adult. Without it, even if you had a documented case of the disease, your immunity will gradually disappear.2. I’ve never heard anyone whoop in my entire life. So how can “experts” say there’s whooping cough breaking out all over? Fact is, you don’t have to whoop to have whooping cough. Here’s what the misery and classic sound of whooping cough sounds like. The “whoop” happens when the infected person desperately tries to inhale at the end of a truly miserable bout of uncontrollable coughing. The classic “whoop” sound is believed to be more common in a person who got no vaccinations, or only one as a baby, or has lost all their immunity. Partial immunity seems to mean that people get milder versions of what is, really, a hideous infection. What’s more, the whoop occurs way late – after days to weeks of sickness, as the coughing seems to get relentlessly worse. Pertussis can be found by medical tests, so disease-trackers, even without the whoops, can know who’s getting it, and where.3. I’m supposed to take antibiotics for a runny nose? You’ve got to be kidding me. Whooping cough has a strange and nasty presentation, one that seems designed to fake out everything you’ve ever been taught about how to deal with colds and flu. It begins with a typical runny nose. Then (sneaky sneaky), the runny nose seems to go away after a few days. The cough begins, but it’s not so horrible at first. Kind of like what you’d expect from a typical, seasonal upper respiratory infection.But then, right when you think you should be getting better, the spasms of coughing begin. We’re talking whole-body, snot-running-down-the-face, have-to-leave-the-meeting, holding-your-side, unable-to-catch-your-breath nastiness. These bouts will gradually worsenover time, striking at any moment, often at night, leaving a healthy person bent over, drenched in sweat and gasping. For many many people, this type of coughing hell leads inevitably to vomiting. Even in a hallway of the office, even on a street corner. It’s that involuntary. And, it goes on and on. For weeks and weeks. That’s what it’s like a normal, healthy person. Imagine how this type of thing can affect someone with a touch of emphysema. Or a frail set of chest muscles. Or a frail set of chest muscles. Or a tiny, too-young-to-be-vaccinated baby. People can indeed die from it, or from the pneumonia that you can get on top of it.4. Won’t my doctor know if I’ve got whooping cough? Somewhere around weeks two or three, if you despair and go to the doctor, a typical exam will show … nothing. Even a really good doctor is likely to send you home with an inhaler (even if you don’t have asthma) and tell you to try using it to see if the inhaler will “break” the coughing spells. But only a doctor who’s aware of pertussis outbreaks and takes the time to listen to all your symptoms and how long they’ve been going on will recognize that what you have is probably whooping cough. Sadly, there’s no medicine to stop pertussis once it’s truly set it.Taking the antibiotics for whooping cough after you’re had it for a couple of weeks (which is when most people drag themselves into see the doctor) does nothing. If you diagnose pertussis in the first week, taking the antibiotics then may reduce how long you are infectious to other people. But, keep in mind, there’s hope for the people you know and love! If a person is exposed to a true case of pertussis, and starts to have the runny nose stage – then, if you take the appropriate antibiotics in the first 72 hours, you can nip the whole nasty disease in the bud, right there and then (although a recent review of the few studies to support this practice resulted in an “insufficient evidence” to completely verify it works).So you heard it from me, and I’ll back you up – there is, indeed, despite everything you’ve ever been told by every doctor your entire life, one and only time in medicine when it truly is appropriate and useful to take antibiotics for a runny nose. To kill off whooping cough before it begins.5. What do you mean, I should get a tetanus shot if I’m a smoker? That’s just crazy. Well, no. Not any longer. Anyone who’s a smoker, anyone with lung disease of any kind, anyone with breathing troubles for any reason – you’re exactly the person who wants to be sure to stay up on your tetanus boosters. Because now, with the recent whooping cough outbreaks, your garden-variety tetanus booster comes with a pertussis booster added on! If you’re in a risk group of any kind, you don’t want to let your whooping cough immunity lag.Jan Gurley is an internal medicine physician who blogs at Doc Gurley.Submit a guest post and be heard.Similar Posts:California pertussis epidemic may be caused by vaccine refusalHow effective is a single dose of H1N1 vaccine for adults?Treating a child with fever and leukemia Tagged as: Patient, Primary care Question 1Do I need a tetanus shot if I stepped on sharp metal but it didn't go through my foot?...  I stepped on my mirror it has sharp metal plates on the outside of it and it started gushing. It stopped bleeding now and I put some hydrogen peroxide and a band- aid on it. I mean its not a rusty nail, but would I still need to get a tetanus shot?Answers1)   not unless the metal was very rusty - Tess2)   Tetanus is usually associated with injuries that involve rusty metal objects or soil exposure. Any injury can potentially expose you to the agents that can develop into a serious infection however. That is why a tetanus vaccination is always advised every 10 years . If it has been more than 10 years since your last immunization, it would be smart to invest in another shot to protect yourself. Foot injuries are always something to be taken seriously because they have the potential for high rate of infection and slower healing, particularly if you are diabetic , have slow circulation to your extremities or are older. - Mama Mia3)   tetanus doesnt come from rust as many believe..it comes from soil..most rusty thing have came in contact with soil thats why they say if you step on a rusty nail to get a shot..if your not up to date on your shots then it wouldnt hurt to get the tetanus shot - Patricia*AtL4)   better to be safe than sorry i would get it just in case - Taylor Swift $ Avril Lavigne___________________________________________________ Question 2really bad back pain.?...  I'm 1 4 & have been having terrible pain in my lower back for a few months now. I've been taking ibuprofen, using a heating pad, thermacare wrap & it's still not getting any better. The pain is actually starting to get worse. It's almost to the point where I can barely walk without it hurting really bad. My mom made an appointment for me to see the orthopedic specialist but it's over a week away before i can see him. Is there anything I can do to help the pain before then ? & what do you think could be wrong ? I am very active in competitive cheer & dance.Answers1)   For now stop cheering and dancing. Try sleeping with something under your legs while lying on your back. - Earstealer2)   You have a pinched muslce in your back causing you those pains. If left as it is it can cause a slipped disc, a bulging disc or other problems for the vertebrae around that area. You have to release your back muscles to get rid of this pain and here's how to do that: Back: (do from a sitting position) Place your left hand on your left leg next to your body. Place your right hand over your left shoulder, fingers over the back and the palm in the front and firmly press on them and hold. After 30 seconds slowly lower your body forward and to the outside of your left leg, keeping your left arm fairly straight as you do. When you reach your lap remain there for another 10 seconds, release the pressure but rest there for another 30 seconds. Then reverse your hand positions and do your right side. For best results relax your body first by taking a deep breath and exhaling then remain this relaxed. - Douglas B3)   Hmm... Buy Hot and Cold Pack that seemed to help me when i was in need and had a back pain or try some home remedies try stretching or use a heating pad okay try that.. - Punjabiboy4)   probrably a pulled mucscle.. - WiSHiNG..!___________________________________________________ Question 3Smoked TOO much WEED..question?...  I've been smoking weed everyday for almost three years. And recently I started getting minor panic attacks after smoking but nothing major. And then last night, I was smoking a joint with some REALLY good bud. I was smoking and everything was cool and then I thought my dad was up and gonna come downstairs where I was smoking, so I started ripping through the joint. I smoked the whole thing really quick and got WAY TOO HIGH. I started buggin out, went for a car ride to try and sober up, ice cold shower, I basically lost touch with reality for a good 2 hours, I didn't like the high at all, I almost got to the point of calling the ambulance cause I thought I was losing my mind, but i held it together and eventually just chilled watching TV for a while and just kept in my mind that I smoked too much weed and everything was fine.. The next day, I feel fine just REALLY out of it. Any help, should I go for a run, drink lots of water, eat something in particular? I just feel like things are a little different around me.the panic attacks have only happened twice and I was REALLY high, I could smoke and be fine, just when I smoke too muchAnswers1)   Stop smoking the herb. Problem solved. Geez, man, it's like saying "When I stab myself in the hand with this pen, my hand really hurts. What should I do?" - Scott2)   Shalom! Well as I see you really care your health, otherwise you wouldn't worry about this unusual event. Go undergo a cure. Or become a sex addict. XOXO from a dirty guy from Eastern Europe - Marc Toney3)   Hungry, happy, sleepy........those are the side effects. You may have thought that ni&&er was dead. He's going to wake up in 20 mins and eat up everything in your house. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJzOGJfCVh0 - Free Mehserle4)   drink some water and go to sleep - Military Might___________________________________________________ Question 4I have this pain in my stomach I've never had before... any suggestions on what it could be?...  I've been a vegitarian for almost a year now and I just recently started eating tofu. When I eat it I start to get a little sick to my stomach, but nothing too bad. But it's really good, so I keep eating it. So I woke up this morning and went to go use the bathroom and I couldn't go. (#2) And then I sat down at my computer desk, and now I'm feeling this pinching feeling right between my boobs and stomach. I feel very drousy and I feel like I have to throw up but I can't, And I also feel sick to my stomach. I'm thinking it might have to do with the Tofu/not getting enough protien/etc. Of course it could be something else. Uhm, I'm a pretty healthy child. I'm 13 years old, I'm about 5'4, I weigh 115 pounds. I've always been very paranoid about my health. Any ideas what this could be? and what could it result in? and can it be cured?Thanks Toby and Douglas! And to Douglas, I've been having these minor backpains lately so you're probably right. I'm going to go try to those excercises right now. Thanks again. :)Answers1)   Its probably because being a vegetarian at 13 is such a bad idea, you are at the stage when your body is growing more rapidly then any other point in your life, and some of the most essential things you need for growing are found in meat. - Toby W2)   That sounds like you have pinched muscles in your back causing those pains. When pinched in the upper back the pains like to follow the ribs to the front and manifest themselves as rib, chest or heart pains. When tight in the lower back they can press on the nerves for other organs as they leave the spine. If you have pressure on the ones for your stomach it will make the stomach have pain, if pressed on the ones for your colon it can be causing it to cramp up some to not let you go to the bathroom when you feel you have to. You need to release the muscles in your back to get rid of these pains. Here's how to do that: Back: (do from a sitting position) Place your left hand on your left leg next to your body. Place your right hand over your left shoulder, fingers over the back and the palm in the front and firmly press on them and hold. After 30 seconds slowly lower your body forward and to the outside of your left leg, keeping your left arm fairly straight as you do. When you reach your lap remain there for another 10 seconds, release the pressure but rest there for another 30 seconds. Then reverse your hand positions and do your right side. For best results relax your body first by taking a deep breath and exhaling then remain this relaxed. - Douglas B3)   you could be allergic to it or constipated - Military Might___________________________________________________ Question 5will this go away soon? it hurts in my mouth?...  when i chew gum i accidently bite my mouth inside and its a big cut and it hurts alot.it happen a few days ago. will it go away? it doesnt bleed no more of course but its like a white x like the cut turn into like white i think it hurts when i talk or eat on the right side of my mouthAnswers1)   What are you? - Kergh2)   It will heal, try not to touch it with your tongue. Avoil really spicy, sour or hot foods for a while. You may want to swish with warm salt water to speed healling - Nurse Kate (RN/BSN)3)   oooh ya it goes away i've had that a lot it probably that you chew your gum way too fast n then you accidently bite your the side of your mouth or your tongue don't worry it'll go away soon. - Punjabiboy___________________________________________________