Tetanus case reported in child in Lviv, Ukraine, 8th case this year in the country
This past week, Ukrainian health officials report an unvaccinated child with severe tetanus symptoms was hospitalized in the intensive care unit of one of the hospitals of the Lviv region.
A ten-year-old boy injured the finger of his left hand with a sharp object on August 20, and two weeks later he developed symptoms of tetanus: pains and cramps in the muscles of the legs, impaired speech and swallowing, trismus (spasm of the chewing muscles).
The situation arose due to parents' refusal to vaccinate their child against tetanus according to the preventive vaccination schedule. The boy has been given the treatment for tetanus.
Health authorities remind parents it is vitally important to vaccinate children in time against such dangerous infectious diseases as tetanus in order to prevent serious or even irreversible consequences. The risk of death from tetanus without vaccination, even with medical care, can reach 80%. Most of those who recover remain disabled, even after receiving treatment using the most modern methods.
Tetanus can occur after injuries with damage to the skin and mucous membranes contaminated with spores of the pathogen. If you were injured by a sharp or rusty object, a piece of wood, etc., and dirt got into the wound, be sure to seek medical help. It is necessary to consult a doctor, also in case of frostbite, burns and animal bites.
Vaccinated people get tetanus almost 10 times less often than unvaccinated people . 88.3% of tetanus cases in Ukraine over the last ten years — among either unvaccinated, or vaccinated with a violation of the vaccination calendar, or in people who do not have documentary data on vaccination.
In seven months of 2024, eight cases of tetanus were registered in Ukraine, half of which were among children. One case was fatal.