TETANUS TOXOID ANTIBODY IgG

TETANUS, ALSO CALLED LOCKJAW, IS CAUSED BY THE TOXIN OF CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI. SPORES OF THIS BACTERIUM ARE INTRODUCED INTO THE BODY THROUGH PUNCTURE WOUND. UNDER THESE ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS THE BACTERIA GROW AND PRODUCE TOXINS (TETANOSPASMIN, TETANOLYSIN), WHICH CAUSE SKELETAL MUSCLE SPASMS & AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM DISTURBANCE. PROTECTION IS ACHIEVED BY VACCINATION IN CHILDHOOD AND FOLLOWING BOOSTER INJECTIONS. IN CHILDREN <7 YEARS OF AGE, THE TETANUS VACCINE IS ADMINISTERED AS A COMBINED VACCINE, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES VACCINES AGAINST DIPHTHERIA AND PERTUSSIS (DPT). IMMUNITY IS GENERALLY ACHIEVED BY THREE LIFETIME DOSES OF THE VACCINE; BOOSTER SHOTS OF THE VACCINE ARE RECOMMENDED EVERY 10 YEARS TO MAINTAIN IMMUNITY. FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN >7 YEARS OF AGE, COMBINED VACCINES OF TETANUS AND DIPHTHERIA (DT, DTAP) ARE COMMONLY USED.