What is the tetanus vaccine? Uses and side effects of Tetanus Vaccines
In recent years, development and developments in medical science have led to significant improvement and progress in the fields of disease prevention. One of these developments is the production and use of vaccines as a powerful tool against many infectious diseases. One of the vital vaccines that plays a very important role in this regard is the tetanus vaccine. Tetanus is an infectious disease caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria and causes muscle spasms and in some cases even death. Tetanus vaccine, as one of the main preventions of this disease, plays a very effective role in maintaining the health of society.
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Pharmaceutical forms of tetanus vaccine
- Powder for injection: 250 units
Uses of tetanus vaccine
The tetanus vaccine is used to prevent tetanus (also known as lockjaw) infection. Tetanus is a serious disease that causes seizures and severe muscle spasms that can be strong enough to break bones in the spine. Tetanus causes death in 30 to 40 percent of cases, and in recent years, two-thirds of tetanus cases have been in people 50 years and older. Note that previous tetanus infection does not make you immune to tetanus in the future.
Tetanus immune globulin (tetanus vaccine) works by giving your body antibodies to protect it from tetanus infection, which is called passive protection. This passive protection lasts long enough to protect your body until the body can produce its own antibodies against tetanus. Tetanus immune globulin should only be administered by or under the supervision of a physician or other healthcare professional.
Pharmacological effects and mechanism of action of Tetanus Vaccines
Tetanus toxoid causes the production of antibodies against Clostridium tetani exotoxin. If the usage period is completed, the created immunity remains for at least 10 years.
Dosage of Tetanus Vaccines
Before taking Kazar vaccine, consult your doctor or pharmacist regarding drug information and how to use it. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients, so take this vaccine only with the doctor’s prescription. While taking the tetanus vaccine, do not take any medicine without the doctor’s order and consultation, and do not reduce, increase or stop the injection dose without coordinating with him. The amount of medicine you take depends on the strength of the medicine, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and how long you take the medicine.
Timing of tetanus vaccine
- The dose used to prevent tetanus will be 250 units as a muscle injection (single dose). This dose for active tetanus is 3000-6000 units by intramuscular injection.
- Note that after creating a wound, clean the wound well. The dosage for these cases should be determined by the doctor. For all other wounds, an unknown dose or 0-1 dose and toxoid plus IG is used. 2 doses; Toxoid, but not in case of wound less than 24 hours IG. Also for more than 3 doses if it was more than 5 years ago and there is no toxoid.
- To prevent tetanus in children under 7 years old, 4 units per kg or 250 units are used as intramuscular injection. This amount of dose for children over 7 years old is 250 units in the form of intramuscular injection (single dose).
- The dosage for the treatment of tetanus should be done with the doctor’s prescription. However, the recommended dose is 3000-6000 units by intramuscular injection.
Precautions
Before taking the tetanus vaccine, if you are allergic to it or other ingredients in the vaccine, avoid taking it. This medicine may contain inactive ingredients that can cause allergic reactions or other problems. If you have medical records including blood circulation problems, some mental and emotional conditions, kidney and liver disorders, heart problems (including irregular heartbeat), sensitivity to various types of vaccines, specific allergic reactions, etc., consult with your doctor regarding the injection of this vaccine. do. This vaccine does not cause any problems in pregnant women, but it should be taken under the supervision and prescription of a doctor.
- For those who are allergic to aluminum, liquid toxoid should be used.
- For the treatment of tetanus disease or immediate prevention, tetanus antidote and preferably human anti-tetanus antibody should be used.
- In case of redness, swelling, inflammation, dryness, etc., at the injection site, consult a doctor regarding repair and injection of the next doses of the vaccine in another place.
- Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this or any other medicine. Also, tell your health care professional if you have other types of allergies, such as foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals.
- Although there is no specific information comparing the use of tetanus immunoglobulin in children with its use in other age groups, it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in children than in adults.
- Many drugs have not been studied specifically in the elderly. Therefore, it may not be clear whether they work in exactly the same way in younger adults or whether they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing the use of tetanus immunoglobulin in the elderly with the use in other age groups.
- However, there is no evidence that the effects of tetanus immune globulin are different in older people than in younger people, and this is a hypothesis on the part of doctors (not scientifically proven).
- There are many people who are allergic to aluminum, if you are one of those people, it is better to use the liquid form of tetanus vaccine so that it does not threaten your health.
- There is no need to delay vaccination due to a cold or other mild illness. However, if you are concerned, talk to your doctor.
Contraindications to the use of tetanus vaccine
- Allergy to gamma globulin, IgA, thimerosal
Side effects of Tetanus Vaccines
After taking the tetanus vaccine, we see complications such as hives, redness, inflammation and pain at the injection site, lethargy, chest tightness, angioneurotic edema, etc. in patients. If any of these side effects do not improve or worsen, consult your doctor or pharmacist. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has determined that the benefits for you are greater than the risk of side effects. Most people who use this drug do not experience serious side effects. However, if you experience serious side effects or allergies, see your doctor.
- urticaria
- Injection site pain
- N/V
- Fever
- lethargy and fatigue
- Chest tightness
- anaphylaxis
- Angioneurotic edema
- Nephrotic syndrome (rare)
Drug interaction of tetanus vaccine
Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk of serious side effects. Of course, this does not mean that all pills will have drug interactions or serious problems. Patients, before taking medicine, prepare a list of chemical and herbal medicines you use and show it to your doctor. Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may increase the risk of certain side effects, but using both medicines may be the best treatment for you. If both drugs are prescribed together, in some cases the doctor will change the dose or frequency of one or both drugs.
- Adenovirus vaccine
- Quadrivalent dengue vaccine, live
- Influenza virus vaccine, live
- Measles virus vaccine, live
- Mumps virus vaccine, live
- Polio vaccine, live
- Rotavirus vaccine, live
- Rubella virus vaccine, live
- smallpox vaccine
- Varicella virus vaccine, live
- Yellow fever vaccine
- Zoster vaccine, live
Taking tetanus vaccines during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Tetanus vaccine, also known as tetanus toxoid, is an inactivated vaccine that protects against the toxin from the tetanus bacteria. This vaccine is recommended to prevent tetanus in pregnant mothers and their babies. Tetanus is a serious disease characterized by muscle stiffness. The disease can occur at any age, but is more dangerous in unvaccinated infants and pregnant mothers. This vaccine is safe and effective during pregnancy and is injected intramuscularly. It should be noted that it is better to inject this vaccine in the second trimester of pregnancy.
Storage conditions for Tetanus Vaccines
Tetanus vaccine should be stored at room temperature and away from light. It is also important to keep all medications out of the reach of children, as many forms of medication (such as weekly tablets and eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and can be easily opened by young children. . Unnecessary medications should be disposed of in specific ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot ingest them.
The final word on the tetanus vaccine
In this article entitled “Tetanus Vaccine” from “Positive Green Pharmacy” magazine, we found out that the tetanus vaccine as an effective preventive against tetanus disease plays a very vital role in improving public health. By providing immune protection against the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which is the main cause of this disease, this vaccine will help reduce the number of people infected and reduce the death rate. Considering that tetanus still remains a health challenge in some regions of the world, developing extensive vaccination programs and increasing public awareness of the importance of tetanus vaccine is a vital step to improve public health and reduce the disease.
Site source: Medscape