May 26, 2012
Topics A-Z Infections Tetnus and post exposure prophylaxis
Tetnus and post exposure prophylaxis |
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Dear Ask The Doctor: If a person may have tetnus, receiving it from a small nick on his finger, and the incubation period could be up to 8 weeks even though normally 3-8 days (and has had no tetnus shot for 15 or more years), but chooses to get a tetnus shot, will the antibodies formed in two weeks prevent the disease from accelerating even while it may still be in its incubation period? Dear Stu: Ideally a tetanus shot should be got immediately within 24 hours of a suspected potentially infective injury. If that is the case then the immunoglobulin and the toxoid help in preventing the development of tetanus by producing antibodies to fight the infection. I hope this helps. |
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 11 April 2011 ) |
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