Health Topics A-Z | 2007 Archive | 2006 Archive | 2005 Archive | 2004 Archive | 2003 Archive
A R T I C L E |
D A T E |
| Yuck-ology Lice, worms & other gross-out conditions |
09-04-2008 |
| YUCK! Poolside Parasites | 07-15-2008 |
| 10 Tips for Healthy Far-Off Travel | 07-09-2008 |
| Singin' the West Nile Blues Clinical depression can strike West Nile Virus patients up to one year after infection, new research finds |
08-01-2007 |
| The Pork Taco, The Tapeworm and The Brain | 10-25-2006 |
| After-Bite We hear about those who die from West Nile Virus. We hear about those who get well. But, we don’t hear much about the one percent who live with it. Long term. |
10-11-2006 |
| Shingles: Vaccine THIS! |
07-19-2006 |
| Outbreak: Heather and Delia's Dangerous Return to Childhood |
05-05-2006 |
| Mumps & Measles: Grown-up facts on childhood disease |
05-05-2006 |
| The Winter Guide to Staying Healthy |
11-04-2005 |
| Katrina-borne Disease: Facts & Fiction |
09-19-2005 |
| College Students and Meningitis The one back-to-school supply that could save your life |
08-22-2005 |
| Top 5 Myths about Vaccines | 08-16-2005 |
| Bird Flu Spreading its Wings? |
07-20-2005 |
| Travelers'
Diarrhea A new study finds antibiotic Rifaximin a safe, effective prevention for an age-old vacation spoiler |
05-20-2005 |
| Deep Vein Thrombosis | 03-15-2005 |
| New
Attack on Heart Attack Cardiologists, paramedics and ERs embark on a special research mission to save your life. |
02-15-2005 |
| 'Strep' From sore throats to ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria, Group A Streptococcus is a bug to be reckoned with. |
09-13-2004 |
| High Blood Pressure And West Nile Virus What You Need to Know |
04-05-2004 |
| Sexually-Transmitted Diseases Part Two: Bacterial STDs |
03-11-2004 |
| Sexually-Transmitted Diseases Part One: Runaway Viruses |
03-08-2004 |
| Another Tequila Sunrise Another Spring Break in the Bathroom |
03-04-2004 |
| Bird Flu The Hunt and Peck for Answers |
03-01-2004 |
| Catch Me If You Can The race is on between Man and mutating virus |
02-02-2004 |
| It's Not Easy Being Green... or (Yellow) Hepatitis A and Green Onions |
12-18-2003 |
| The Road Less Traveled Travel Clinics for Wanderlust |
12-01-2003 |
| West Nile Virus: Avoid the Bite |
07-07-2003 |
| Breathing a Sigh of Relief Scientists Close to Unlocking Mysteries of SARS |
04-17-2003 |
| Meningitis One Very, Scary Word (But it doesn't have to be) |
02-24-2003 |
| Smallpox: Fight Fear With Facts |
02-17-2003 |
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Tetanus booster for adults
Tetanus does not result from the rusty nail or whatever created the wound. The danger lies in the bacteria Clostridium tetani that lives in the soil or manure on that nail or gardening tool. When these spores get into a wound—deep or shallow—they can produce a potent toxin. Also called lockjaw, tetanus seriously affects the central nervous system and can be fatal.
Onset of symptoms can occur anytime from three days to three weeks. Call your health care provider if you have an open wound, particularly if:
Adults should have a tetanus booster shot every 10 years, known as the Td vaccine. It is a "2-in-1" vaccine that protects against tetanus and diphtheria. It contains a slightly different dose of diphtheria vaccine than what you received as a child. It can be given to anyone older than 7 years and is injected, usually into the arm.
Instead of the standard Td booster every 10 years, adults between the ages of 19 and 65 should receive Tdap one time in their adulthood to boost the immune system for pertussis, as well as tetanus and diphtheria.
Diphtheria, a contagious bacterial infection created that causes severe inflammation of the throat and larynx and can also affect the whole body. Pertussis or “whooping cough” is a serious bacterial infection that afflicted children and infants before vaccines were available. Adults may be infected later in life as their immunities wane. Neither of these infections are related to tetanus, but both vaccines are compatible and convenient to use with the tetanus booster.
