May 11, 2005
Tetanus Risk May Be Growing in Your Garden, Officials Warn
As Montanans pull on their gardening gloves and dig out their shovels, hoes and pruning shears, their risk of getting a tetanus infection grows, state health officials warned Wednesday.
Close to a third of all tetanus cases are caused by garden, yard or farm injuries, according to Joyce Burgett, manager of the immunization program of the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. And more than eight of every 10 Americans does gardening or yard work at some time each year.
"We tend to be conscientious about getting tetanus shots for our children," Burgett said, "but the fact is, adults run an even higher risk of tetanus infections than kids do. All it takes is a cut, scrape or scratch from working in your yard or garden to expose you to it."
Tetanus, or lockjaw, is a serious and sometimes fatal disease characterized by muscle rigidity and painful spasms. It is caused by bacteria that thrive in soil and manure, as well as in the intestines and feces of dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals.
Tetanus enters the body through a wound. Although it prefers deep puncture wounds, like those made by nails or knives, it can gain access through the tiniest pinprick or scratch. Once inside, it begins to produce a poison that blocks nerve impulses that allow muscles to relax.
The first signs of tetanus infection are usually a headache and spasms of the jaw muscles. The victim may become irritable. As the poison spreads, it causes muscle spasms in the neck, arms, legs, and stomach. The victim may get painful convulsions, which can be severe enough to break bones. People with tetanus may have to spend several weeks in the hospital under intensive care. In the United States, three of every 10 people who get tetanus die from it.
Tetanus can be prevented through vaccination, Burgett said. She recommended that adults get a tetanus/diptheria booster shot every 10 years. She also noted that tetanus is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from person to person.
To find out if you need a tetanus/diptheria booster, contact your personal physician or local health department. For more information, call the state Immunization Program at 444-5580.
Page last updated: 06/15/2006
