Anti-tetanus serum: what you need to know about vaccination

To date, cases of tetanus are fixed less and less. This, apparently, is facilitated by the fact that a significant part of the population is vaccinated against this infection. Many people refuse this vaccination, arguing that there are very few cases of the disease. But! Would this argument be a consolation for the one who fell ill? Of course not. Therefore, it is worth knowing that there is such a useful thing as tetanus antiserum, the timely introduction of which will help to prevent the unpleasant consequences of the disease. About this and talk.

What is anti-tetanus serum

From the point of view of pharmacology, this agent is a protein fraction of blood serum. True, most often, not human, but horse. Anti-tetanus serum is purified and concentrated in a special way (in the medical literature it is said that this is done using the peptic drug method). Consequently, the introduction of the facility is - under all conditions - completely safe and justified. Antitoxins contained in the liquid effectively neutralize tetanus toxin. Accordingly, a vaccinated person develops passive immunity to this disease. In addition to prevention, serum is also introduced for the treatment of tetanus.

Indications for vaccination

Is it worth it to run to any doctor with any scratch and ask for a drug? Of course not. The danger is deep (those that violate the integrity of subcutaneous fat) and dirty wounds, obtained, for example, where there are many different kinds of impurities. In addition, tetanus antiserum may be administered to a patient who has received extensive frostbite of a serious degree of severity, burns. After childbirth and abortions, which took place in unsanitary conditions, it is also necessary to introduce the drug. Bites of animals, injuries - no less serious testimony for treatment in the vaccination room.

Emergency prophylaxis: features of vaccination and contraindications

How and in what doses is the person given anti-tetanus serum? The instruction says that for emergency prevention of the disease the drug is administered in an amount ranging from 10 000 to 20 000 IU. The method of administration may be different. It is practiced both intravenous and intramuscular injection, there is also an introduction to the spinal canal. The doctor must decide. The only thing that should be understood is that the vaccine should be made in the shortest possible time! With regard to contraindications, the serum for the purpose of emergency prevention can not be administered to pregnant women and those with an increased sensitivity to the components of the drug.

If the antitetanus serum is administered to treat a disease that has already begun, then there are no contraindications.

What is anti-tetanus serum?

This name indicates the method of administration of the drug, a kind of test. The patient in the forearm (intradermally) is administered 0.1 ml of serum, which is diluted in a 1: 100 ratio. After 20-30 minutes, the place of administration is inspected. If the hyperemia and edema are poorly expressed, then the drug is administered according to the instructions.

In any case, the patient after the vaccination should stay at least 1 hour under the supervision of doctors in order to rule out the possibility of developing Quincke's edema, anaphylactic shock.