While working in the fields, Mr. P.K.T, 62 years old, from Thanh Hoa slipped and fell on a rotten tree, causing a cut on his right calf. Mr. T treated the wound himself and went home to apply leaves to stop the bleeding.
After 2 days, the wound began to become infected. His family took Mr. T to a medical facility near his home and he was diagnosed with sepsis and had to be hospitalized for treatment.
Because he did not have health insurance, Mr. T went home to treat himself. The next day, Mr. T felt uncomfortable and could not breathe, so his family took him to the emergency room.
When admitted to the lower-level medical facility, Mr. T had difficulty opening his mouth, eating, swallowing, foaming at the mouth, and having seizures.
The patient was diagnosed with tetanus, severe sepsis, had to have a tracheostomy and be put on a ventilator.
At the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Dr. Trinh Thi Lan Huong, Department of Intensive Care, said: "Patient T was admitted in a sedated state, on a ventilator, with muscle stiffness throughout the body, convulsions on a stiff background, a wound in the right leg with pus and fluid, diagnosed with generalized tetanus - sepsis - acute renal failure, with a severe prognosis."
Another patient, N.D.B, 66 years old, was transferred from Son La General Hospital to the Emergency Department, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases with the diagnosis: Tetanus. Before being admitted to the hospital, the patient was stabbed in the instep of the right foot. After 5 days, the jaw appeared stiff. The patient was admitted to Son La General Hospital for treatment. Due to the worsening of the disease, Mr. B was intubated and transferred to the Emergency Department, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases. He was diagnosed with: Tetanus in the wound of the right foot; Hypertension, heart failure. Currently, the patient is still sedated and breathing through an endotracheal tube.
To prevent tetanus, according to Dr. Huong, people should go to a medical facility immediately after being injured to have the wound treated properly. If necessary, they will be injected with tetanus antitoxin serum. If the patient has been vaccinated within 3 years, they should get a booster shot. If the patient has never been vaccinated, or has been vaccinated for more than 3 years, they need to get 3 shots to have basic immunity, immunity will last about 3 - 5 years. Get the 4th booster shot after 5 years, 4 shots have a protective value of over 10 years and then get a booster shot every 10 years.
