A tetanus vaccination is mandatory for whoever participates in sports and for whoever is exposed to the risk of a tetanus infection while working or carrying out other activities.
Tetanus is an acute, non-contagious infectious disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which is found mainly in soil, manure, asphalt and the digestive tracts of certain animals (especially sheep and horses). The tetanus bacterium can survive for long periods in unfavourable conditions because it is preserved in the form of a spore, i.e. surrounded by a highly resistant protective shell.
A trivial wound, but also the use of infected syringes, animal bites, burns/abrasions, can provide a way for the Clostridium to enter the body. Once it has penetrated deep and poorly oxygenated wounds, the bacterium germinates and produces a toxin, which via the neuromuscular junctions and nerves, reaches the spinal cord where its toxicity causes spastic paralysis of the muscles, and in one out of ten cases, can be fatal as it affects the respiratory muscles and determines subsequent cardio-respiratory arrest.
The incubation period ranges from 3 to 21 days, although it can vary from 1 day to several months, depending on the type, extent and location of the wound, with the average at 10 days. Most cases manifest within 14 days.
Prevention is mainly based on administering a vaccine with adsorbed tetanus toxoid that confers lasting protection for at least 10 years. In addition, a careful assessment should be made of the wound in relation to the injured person’s vaccine status.
The tetanus vaccination, which is generally well tolerated, consists of a simple injection given intramuscularly into the arm; the most common side effects are short-lasting inflammatory reactions at the injection site, including soreness; a fever that is mostly mild, may appear in about 5% of cases.
The disease itself is not infectious. In Italy, around 100 deaths are recorded every year, among adults and the elderly.
The basic cycle comprises three doses, with the first two administered approximately two months apart and the third 6-12 months after the second. Additional boosters should be administered every ten years. A single booster dose is also sufficient after the 10-year cycle. The administration of the three doses of the tetanus vaccine, generally given to newborns from 1963 onwards, confers very high levels of protection, with 100% efficacy.
If you do not know your vaccination status and do not have a vaccination booklet, you can apply free of charge to the health registry office of your municipality of residence for a certificate to be issued detailing the vaccinations given. If this information is unavailable, a blood test (through your attending doctor) can be done with a search for tetanus antibodies. A comparison with the limit values will clarify the coverage status.