DYK that Physicians for Informed Consent is misleading you on tetanus. Several factors have contributed to the decline in tetanus morbidity and mortality, including the widespread use of tetanus toxoid–containing vaccines since the late 1940s. Other factors include improved wound care and postexposure use of tetanus immune globulin (TIG), either for prophylaxis in wound management or for treatment of tetanus. In addition, increased rural-to-urban migration with consequent decreased exposure to tetanus spores may also have contributed to the decline in tetanus mortality noted during the first half of the 20th century. Still in 2017, a total of 33 tetanus cases and 2 deaths were reported through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). The effectiveness of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccines is very high, although not 100%. Vaccination status was known for 72 (27%) of 264 tetanus cases reported from 2009 through 2017. In only 18 (25%) was receipt of 3 or more doses of tetanus toxoid reported. Tetanus remains a dealy disease. It still puts children at risk, and remains dangerous and deadly disease in such population.Based on the fact that tetanus bacteria are always in the soil, this fatal disease cannot be eradicated but it can be reduced with increased tetanus vaccination worldwide . The case-fatality ratio in the United States was 91% in 1947, 21-31% from 1982 to 1990, 11% from 1995 to 1997, 18% from 1998 to 2000, and 13.2% from 2001-2008. Mortality in mild and moderate tetanus is approximately 6%; for severe tetanus, it may be as high as 60%. Mortality in the United States resulting from generalized tetanus is 30% overall, 52% in patients older than 60 years, and 13% in patients younger than 60 years. Complete immunization is crucial because tetanus infection does not provide lifetime immunity to individuals who have had the disease . During 1998--2000, an average of 43 cases of tetanus was reported annually; the average annual incidence was 0.16 cases/million population. The highest average annual incidence of reported tetanus was among persons aged >60 years (0.35 cases/million population), persons of Hispanic ethnicity (0.37 cases/million population), and older adults known to have diabetes (0.70 cases/million population). Fifteen percent of the cases were among injection-drug users. The case-fatality ratio was 18% among 113 patients with known outcome; 75% of the deaths were among patients aged >60 years. https://lnkd.in/eJYQmGTi https://lnkd.in/e27UH6gc https://lnkd.in/eF4xaBFq https://lnkd.in/eyEyh86X
What are the risks of tetanus? Between 1900 and 1945, before the widespread use of the tetanus vaccine began, the mortality rate of tetanus declined by around 79% due to advancements in living conditions, treatment, and healthcare. Today, it is rare to contract a fatal case of tetanus in the United States. Learn more about the risks of tetanus here: picdata.org/tetanus-dis #vaccines #publichealth #childrenshealth #healthcare #protectyourkids
