Tetanus is caused by a bacteria that enter the body through wounds in the skin.

Question

Tetanus is caused by a bacteria that enter the body through wounds in the skin. The bacteria produce a toxin that causes septic muscle contraction . Death often results from failure of the respiratory system . A patient comes to the emergency room after stepping on a nail. If the patient have been vaccinated against tetanus , he is given a booster shot, which consist of the toxin altered so that it is harmless. If he has never been vaccinated against tetanus he is given an antiserum shot against tetanus . Explain the rationale for this treatment strategy.

Explanation / Answer

Tetanus shot- what is being inroduced here is a vaccine(containig weakened tetanus antigen ). This will trigger yoursystem to build the antibody to defend you for future exposure tothe tetanus bacteria. Now, if in case the person did not get thevaccine thus he or she does not have the anitbody yet andunfortunately the person was exposed to possible tetanus infection,anti-serum is inroduced (injected) right away.This is alreadyantibody so that it will combat the bacteria fast. No need to waitfor the body to produce the defense system.But unlike the vaccine,this will not last long. That is why it takes a couple of shots ofanti-serum to make sure that it will work in defending thepatient's body.

Short Explantion:

you give the antiserum so the person have instant immunity vstetanus and at the same time we give the vaccine so they developnatural immunity (it takes a while thats why we need theantiserum)

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