wrote in message
ups.com...

Tetanus has a very high mortality rate, even with where medical intensive
care is available. It is a horrendously painful way to die; something you
would not wish on your worst enemy.

The tetanus pathogen is ubiquitous, particularly in soils, and reaches very
high levels in soils that contain animal manures. Because the disease is not
transmitted human-to-human, there is no "herd immunity" to protect
unvaccinated individuals. Tetanus can enter the body through ANY break in
the skin, no matter how minor. Even minute scratches to the cornea of the
eye as caused by a grain of sand can be an entry point.

Adverse reactions to tetanus immunization are very rare; almost non-existant
since horse serum is no longer involved in the manufacture.

The standard of care in hospital emergency departments is to administer
tetanus vaccine if the patient's last booster was more than ten years ago,
or more than five years ago if the patient has a dirty injury. (If the
patient has never been immunized for tetanus, tetanus immune globulin is
administered.) This protocol has proved so effective that most healthcare
professionals have never seen a case of active tetanus.

If it works, don't fix it.
--


--Rich

Recommended websites:

http://www.ratbags.com/rsoles
http://www.acahf.org.au
http://www.quackwatch.org/
http://www.skeptic.com/
http://www.csicop.org/