Did you know...

[PenelopeJune]

That everyone who gets tetanus dies? Yup, everyone. That's what the nurse at the WIC clinic told me last week.

I had been so nervous about going to get WIC in the first place, mostly because of the vax thing. She futzed around, clearly not liking that DD is waaaay behind their schedule (she had shots at 2 months, but none since. She's 12 months now) I simply told her that we are currently delaying, although that's not true.

After a while, the nurse told me that it was up to us whether or not to vax, but one that we should really think about was tetanus. She said that tetanus is everywhere, and if DD gets it, she'll die.

I just said, "I'll think about it."



I'm not quick and witty enough in real life to respond with statistics and stuff. I don't debate with doctors and nurses because I don't have the gall to try to lie and pass my made-up facts off as true.

[Shelsi]

If that had happened to me I would have laughed and told her she should have met my grandma! My grandma got tetanus when she was 4 yrs old and yet somehow still lived to be almost 80 years old and was healthy as could be until the last year or so. I guess she just died really slowly from tetanus

[PenelopeJune]

HA! Shelsi, I guess the nurse was right. Everyone who gets tetanus DOES die...eventually.

[AurorasMommy]

scare tactic.....

Our pedi actually came out and told us that its actually rare now a days to DIE from tetanus. This is due to technology and better medicine. She said "Yes its a horrible diease, long recovery.... But most WILL not die!"

This made me feel alot better!

We had a pedi tell us that if I DIDNT vax my children from Tetanus, than they cannot go around ANY animals... or they will get tetanus and DIE! LOL!!!!! I bring my daughter to state fairs, and let her romp in the animal barn! She hasnt gotten tetanus!

[applejuice]

The tetanus shot is the last one that most thinking people give up on...ala my Father and Dr. Mendelsohn.

[tammyswanson]

I would have asked her if she personally knew every single tetanus case herself to make a stupid statement like that. No wonder I don't trust 'health professionals'.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by PenelopeJune

HA! Shelsi, I guess the nurse was right. Everyone who gets tetanus DOES die...eventually.

Hmmm...I wonder if immortal beings can contract tetanus.

[messy mama]

I would have told her that everyone that gets the tetanus vaccines also dies.

[BookBizMom]

We are now against vaxing but Tetanus is the one we'll probably still get.

[CookAMH]

Originally Posted by BookBizMom

We are now against vaxing but Tetanus is the one we'll probably still get.

How did you end up deciding to do only tetanus? Will you do it later or as a baby?

[BookBizMom]

because we feel that is the one thing they can get. And no we won't give it as a baby...

[_betsy_]

And everyone who gets the vax dies eventually, too!

But, uh, you can recover from tetanus!

A quick Google search shows this:
http://www.emedicine.com/PED/topic3038.htm

Mortality/Morbidity
A rating scale for the severity and the prognosis of tetanus is described below.2

Score one point for each of the following:

Incubation period less than 7 days
Period of onset less than 48 hours
Acquired from burns, surgical wounds, compound fractures, septic abortion, umbilical stump, or intramuscular injection
Narcotic addiction
Generalized tetanus
Temperature greater than 104°F (40°C)
Tachycardia greater than 120 beats per minute (>150 beats per minute in neonates)
Total score indicates the severity and the prognosis as follows:

Score of 0-1 indicates mild severity with less than a 10% mortality rate.
Score of 2-3 indicates moderate severity with a 10-20% mortality rate.
Score of 4 indicates severe tetanus with a 20-40% mortality rate.
Score of 5-6 indicates very severe tetanus with greater than a 50% mortality rate.
Cephalic tetanus is always severe or very severe.
Neonatal tetanus is always very severe.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by messy mama

I would have told her that everyone that gets the tetanus vaccines also dies.

Everyone who stubs their toe dies too!

[Just1More]

hijack...

applejuice...everytime I read "ala", I think "with ice cream." Yes, I know "ala mode"...but, anyway, my brain inserted "with ice cream" in your post..."ice cream my father and Dr. M."

Sorry...just had to share...

Hijack off...

yeah, every now and then I get a little jumpy about tetanus, but mostly I can let it go. I know I'm jumpy for all the wrong reasons. But stuff happens, like...a few days ago ds fell off his tricycle (he's 15 mo) and put 2 holes ALL THE WAY THROUGH his bottom lip, actually under the pink part of his lip...more like between his lip and his chin with his bottom teeth. Then yesterday he gets a fever. Well...my first thought is...is it infected? Could it be tetanus? It's actually just about totally healed today, and I'm sure it's NOT infected, but it did cross my mind. Not, "let's go get him checked out," but just "let's keep an eye on this."

[groovynaturemama]

Originally Posted by rmzbm

Everyone who stubs their toe dies too!

i know, i've died like 5 times so far!

[alegna]

Tetanus was the one I had to get over first. I'm allergic/reactive to the tetanus vax as was my grandmother. After they kept giving it to me (and I had increasing reactions to DECREASING amounts of vax) they finally said- DO NOT ever get it again If you do you could DIE, if you insist- get it in an ER prepared with a crash cart

SO... I decided way back that I wouldn't be comfortable giving my kids that vax. So I researched the bejezers out if it... come to find out that pre-vaccine tetanus was incredibly rare. Most cases could be traced to improper wound care and the like.

-Angela

[sophi4ka]

Originally Posted by PenelopeJune

HA! Shelsi, I guess the nurse was right. Everyone who gets tetanus DOES die...eventually.

So funny

[momtopea]

Maybe we should all keep our kids indoors too b/c one is more likely to be struck by lightning then contract tetnus.

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by momtopea

Maybe we should all keep our kids indoors too b/c one is more likely to be struck by lightning then contract tetnus.

But, but, but!

Everyone who stays inside dies!

[Yulia_R]

Originally Posted by Shelsi

I guess she just died really slowly from tetanus

Originally Posted by PenelopeJune

HA! Shelsi, I guess the nurse was right. Everyone who gets tetanus DOES die...eventually.

you guys are sooo funny!

PS. Sorry for your grandma, Shelsi...