Posted by Ed Tavernier on Sunday, October 06, 2002 at 12:37PM :
In Reply to: Beware of tetanus! posted by Brett Wilsey on Sunday, October 06, 2002 at 12:10PM :
Brett,
Tetanus is in low supply nationally. The tetanus booster does not prevent infection. The bacteria Clostridium tetani is ubiquitous, and particularly resistant to most antiseptics/soaps/etc. The tetanus booster gives your immune system a kick in the pants to stimulate the production of antibodies that fight the toxin that is produced by the bacteria. In effect it acts like a catalyst to stimulate the cells that produce antibodies. Once the cells are exposed to the toxin they develop a memory for the toxin and further exposure is met by an immune system that is primed to produce antitoxin. Unfortunately this memory wears off over the space of 5-10 years, and you need a booster.
The tetanus toxin is a powerful poison to the nervous system, and causes paralysis which eventually causes you to stop breathing.
Thus the tetanus shot and subsequent boosters do NOTHING to prevent/treat infection; rather they stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies to the tetanus toxin.
Eddie
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