First Tetanus-Related Death in Tamaulipas Prompts Urgent Vaccination Campaign

In Tamaulipas, the first death occurred because of it tetanus More than a year after any case has been attended to in the entity, this disease is caused by the bacterium clostridium tetani, which enters the body through a wound in the skin, and if not treated it can die cause

The head of the Tamaulipas Health Secretariat, Vicente Joel Hernández Navarro, pointed out yesterday “They told us a case of tetanus in Reynosa, the patient had collapsed three weeks ago and was not vaccinated against tetanus.”

He added that “He arrived at the hospital with symptoms of tetanus, clostridium tetani, spasms in his legs and arms, and started having breathing problems. There he was brought in, he was given hemoglobin with anti-tetanus, but yesterday – Sunday – he died.”.

Tetanus, a vaccine preventable disease

After receiving the report of this unfortunate case, the Ministry of Health issued instructions to the 12 health jurisdictions distributed in the entity to undertake a strong awareness campaign with a view to guarantee vaccination against the preventable disease.

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“We have always asked that you tell us immediately about any issue, because that way we can act in good time to guarantee the life of the patient,” he said.

Hernández Navarro suggested to the people that when they suffer a deep wound, they go to the nearest health clinic, where they check if they got the vaccinationif the injury is contaminated, proceed with the corresponding treatments and avoid a fatal outcome.

He noted that “The tetanus vaccine is specifically applied to working conditions where there is exposure to corrosive material and where sores can easily be created. “In addition, there is an immunoglobulin that is applied when you see that the wound has a high potential to develop more contamination.”.

Symptoms of tetanus

The clostridium tetani bacteria, when it gets inside the body, produces a toxin or poison called “tetanospasmina toxin”which can reach the nervous system and cause painful muscle contractions, usually in the jaw and neck muscles.

It should be noted that only in advanced cases do seizures and serious complications occur, such as pneumonia, vertebral fractures, lower heart rate, and even death.

The experts from Health Authority 02 say that this bacteria can affect both newborn – neonatal tetanus – and children – neonatal tetanus –, in this case it is transmitted by cutting the umbilical cord in an unhealthy way or by poor care of the umbilical stump after birth; as well as adults.

The tetanus vaccination schedule

he is tetanus It is possible to prevent it because a pentavalent vaccine is applied in Mexico and protects against this disease.

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The schedule consists of four doses, given at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months of age. While the DPT vaccine (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) is applied at 4 years of age to guarantee protection against these diseases.

This protection does not last a lifetime for any part of the vaccine, so boosters must be obtained, especially in women of childbearing age and those who work in situations where there is a risk of injury to avoid incidents. to avoid such an unfortunate death as tetanus. which happened in the end of the Tamaulipas.