Patient Information - Orthopaedic Clinic
Tetanus vaccine
This information is for patients who have received treatment at the Orthopaedic Clinic at Ahus.
What is tetanus?
Tetanus is an infection caused by a bacterium commonly found in soil, saliva and manure. The bacteria generally enter through a break in the skin such as a cut or puncture wound by a contaminated object. The bacteria produce a toxin that can cause spasms due to interference with the nervous system. These muscle spasms can also affect muscles that help with breathing, which can lead to breathing problems and death.
Children who participate in the Norwegian children´s immunisation programme get the DTaP vaccine that protects young children from diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. Children born from the year 1998 receive last booster dose in 10th grade. It is also common to receive booster doses against tetanus during military service or before travelling to high-risk countries.
Booster doses against diseases
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends regular booster doses against tetanus. Normally these vaccines provide complete protection against tetanus for 10 years, but with severely contaminated wounds, the recommendation is to take a new booster dose if more than 5 years since last booster dose.
Boostrix
Boostrix is a combination vaccine that contains booster doses against three infectious diseases. In addition to a booster dose against tetanus it also contains booster doses against diphteria and whooping cough.
Diphteria
A nose and throat infection caused by diphtheria bacteria. It can attack the heart, kidney and nervous tissue, and the bacteria can cause wound infections. The bacteria produce a toxin that can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, and even death.
Whooping cough (Pertussis)
A contagious airway infection with severe fits of coughing caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. This infection can be dangerous for small children, especially infants, and is highly contagious.
Common side effects to the vaccine Boostrix
- Redness, swelling and pain at the injection site.
- Muscle soreness at the injection site.
- Mild fever and headache.
In rare cases: an allergic reaction. Because of this, all patients who receive vaccinations should wait for 20 minutes before leaving the hospital.