The Truth About Tetanus

What is tetanus? 
Also known as lockjaw, it is the prolonged contraction or spasms of the skeletal muscles. According to Wikipedia, "The generalized form usually presents with a descending pattern. The first sign is trismus, or lockjaw, and the facial spasms called risus sardonicus, followed by stiffness of the neck, difficulty in swallowing, and rigidity of pectoral and calf muscles. Other symptoms include elevated temperature, sweating, elevated blood pressure, and episodic rapid heart rate. Spasms may occur frequently and last for several minutes with the body shaped into a characteristic form called opisthotonos. Spasms continue for up to 4 weeks, and complete recovery may take months. Death can occur within four days."
According to the CDC, tetanus is uncommon in the US and only affects 29 cases on average per year. 

How do you get tetanus?
Tetanus is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. Generally, it is associated with rusty nails. Normal thought is that if you are cut in any way by a rusty nail you are at risk for coming down with tetanus. In reality, the bacterium that causes tetanus is most often found in the feces of animals. C. Tetani is an anaerobic bacteria, which means it can only thrive in a low or oxygen free environment. So, everything would have to be just right in order for you to actually contract the disease itself. Because we live in such a developed country, the risk of contracting the disease is very scarce. 

What are the stats?
According to the, Vaccine Safety Manual written by Neil Z. Miller, in the U.S. from 1995-2005 there were just 386 total cases of tetanus. That would be an average of 35 cases a year. Of those 386 cases, only 43 people died. That brings the total deaths from tetanus to a whopping 4 a year. Where did this info come from? The CDC's own Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports.  (According to the notes in the Vaccine Safety Manual) 

What is used to prevent tetanus?
For children age 6 weeks to 7 years the DTap vaccine is recommended. There are 3 vaccines out there right now: Tripedia, Infanrix, and Daptacel. I highly encourage you to read up on each vaccine before giving these to your children. This is info that the companies say you ought to read before administering, but most doctors do not advocate it. 
For adults there is the Td or the Tdap vaccine or just the tetanus toxoid. One thing to keep in mind, they say not to receive this booster vaccine more than once every 10 years. I know this vaccine is being administered much more often than that. Read up on these vaccines. This is important information, if you choose to receive them, to know the risks involved and to know what is going into your body. 
Some interesting facts about the tetanus booster vaccine (since that is what we are discussing in this blog post primarily) that I would like to point out after reading the information on the link above:
 - The vaccine itself is detoxified with formaldehyde. According to Wikipedia, the National Toxicology Program has described formaldehyde as a human carcinogen. What is its purpose in vaccines? To kill most bacteria and fungi. If a human ingests 1 ounce of fluid that contains only 37% of formaldehyde it will kill them (imagine how much formaldehyde goes into our bodies at .02% per vaccine! Especially these little children's bodies that are still developing!).  Studies have also found a correlation between formaldehyde and leukemia. Read about it and research it in more detail for yourself. 
 - It states that this vaccine is not to be used for the treatment of tetanus (then why do they encourage us to get one every time we go to the hospital for a cut? It will not even help if the cut we just got gives us tetanus!)
 - If you experience a fever greater than 103 degrees following the vaccine, you are having an adverse reaction!
 - This vaccine should NOT be given more than every 10 years, even in an emergency situation!
 - Deaths have been reported with the administration of this vaccine.
 - The risk to an unborn baby is unknown.
 - Animal reproduction studies have NOT been done. They do not know if it effects the baby. 

Is there an alternative way? 
YES! 
Scenario number 1: You have received a cut from a clean metallic object. You are bleeding (this means the wound has oxygen! Tetanus cannot live in an oxygenated environment!). You go to the hospital because you definitely require a few stitches. They ask you when your last tetanus shot was. You don't remember, but it doesn't matter. Your wound is bleeding! The chance of the metallic object being contaminated by feces is slim to none. It really is ok to reject the vaccine. You will probably be just fine. Keep the wound clean and keep an eye on it for infection. (FYI: apply some Young Living lavender essential oil to the wound after it is stitched up! This will help the healing process and will help with pain!)
Scenario number 2: You were working out in the garden. Digging in the dirt. While digging you hit something sharp and slice your hand. You run inside the house without inspecting what cut you and realize it is a major issue. You need stitches. You head to the hospital. They are really going to be pushing you for the tetanus booster! You can either reject it or you can ask for the TIG shot! What is that? It is Tetanus Immune Globulin. It directly neutralizes C. Tetani. In other words, it is the anti-toxin!

Think of it this way, if you get bit by a poisonous snake while hiking in the woods, you rush to the hospital to receive the anti-venom.
If you are unsure or even if you begin to experience symptoms of tetanus, you want the anti-toxin. It is stated that the tetanus vaccine is not to be used to treat tetanus. If you already have the cut, the vaccine is of no use to you. What is of use to you is the anti-toxin, TIG. 

Interesting factoid: You are more likely to be bit by a poisonous snake than you are to contract tetanus. About 12 people per year die from snake bites verses approximately 4 people from tetanus (see note above on the stats!). 

Conclusion:
Why are we receiving a tetanus vaccine so many times over the course of our lives? Why is it even necessary? I would argue that it is not. Just like you would not receive a vaccine to prevent dying from a poisonous snake bite, it seems even more ridiculous to receive a vaccine against an even more un-likely chance of contracting tetanus. Tetanus is NOT a contagious disease. 
Be smart. If you get a wound, keep it clean, and keep an eye on it. Watch for any signs of infection. When we are informed, we can make better decisions for ourselves and for our families.