Firecracker victims should get anti-tetanus shots

Health experts reiterated yesterday their call for New Year revelers who suffered injuries or burns from firecracker blasts to get anti-tetanus shots.

Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit said that there might be a "tetanus epidemic" this month if revelers will not seek proper treatment for firecracker injuries.

"After washing the wounds, they should get anti-tetanus shots. The same goes for those who only suffered burns," he noted.

Dr. Arturo Cabanban, director of the San Lazaro Hospital (SLH), said even those who suffered only minor burns are prone to infection.

"Burns are usually left untreated. The bacteria is not even washed out so infection is likely to set in," he explained.

The Department of Health (DOH) recorded 590 injuries from firecracker blasts, stray bullets and watusi poisoning during the Christmas celebrations. This is 11 percent higher than the 531 cases registered in 2002.

The DOH blamed the increase on the delayed showing of the "Iwas Paputok" campaign ads on television and the new marketing strategies employed by firecracker and pyrotechnics manufacturers and sellers.

The health department claimed that the pyrotechnics were cheaper this year but of poorer quality. Animal manure, it said, were used to make the explosion louder, increasing the risk of infection for those injured.

Cabanban said it is less costly to have a preventive anti-tetanus shot than wait for the infection to set in.

"Preventive anti-tetanus shot costs only around P500 and this is available in health centers. But treating one serious tetanus case can cost P25,000 to P30,000," he said.

He maintained that one should not wait for symptoms to manifest before seeking anti-tetanus shots.

According to Cabanban, the initial symptom is locked jaw, which could progress into intermittent spasm and convulsion, stiffness of muscles and frequent convulsion and spasm.

Once the symptoms set in, he said, the fatality rate ranges from 10 to 60 percent.

Cabanban added that to save tetanus patients, SLH administers serum against tetanus toxin, antibiotic and diazetam, which controls spasms. Patients are usually confined for one month.

"Infection usually set in one to three weeks after the injuries or burns were acquired. We advise the public not to wait this long," he said.