Man from Caloocan first tetanus casualty

A 19-year-old resident of Caloocan City died of tetanus at a government-run hospital in Manila last Sunday, becoming the first casualty of firecracker-related infection this year.

Dr. Joel Janolino of San Lazaro Hospital’s central nervous system and infectious disease ward said the victim suffered so-called "avulsion wounds" in his hand caused by a firecracker blast.

"He did not see a doctor. He cleaned the wounds all by himself," Janolino said in an interview yesterday. The victim was already suffering from lockjaw and massive spasm when he was brought to the hospital last Friday.

Last Sunday night, a 31-year-old man was also brought to San Lazaro after developing tetanus in his left foot after it had been injured by a firecracker.

Janolino said the patient was already manifesting the same symptoms of lockjaw and abdominal spasms consistent with tetanus. "He is unstable. Sometimes, he develops generalized spasm."

A 33-year-old man from Tondo, Manila was also taken to the same hospital. He suffered from a cut on his left foot and right arm where he was accidentally hit by a firecracker.

He was already manifesting tetanus symptoms when he was brought to San Lazaro last Sunday.

A 12-year-old girl — also from Tondo, Manila — was rushed to the hospital early yesterday morning because of lockjaw.

Her left foot was injured by sparks from a firecracker fountain while she was walking along the street during the New Year’s revelry.

Dr. Eric Tayag, chief epidemiologist of the Department of Health (DOH), revealed that the two victims had both consulted with private doctors.

"But we are not sure if they were given the right treatment," he said.

Tayag again called on those who have firecracker-related wounds to see a doctor to help prevent infection.

"It takes up to one month for tetanus to set in. We reiterate our call for those who got injured during the revelry to consult a doctor. See to it that you are given tetanus anti-toxin. Tetanus toxoid is not enough to protect you against infection."

San Lazaro has enough supply of tetanus anti-toxin to attend to those with firecracker-related wounds, he said.

According to Janolino, the fatality rate of firecracker-related tetanus is at least 60 percent, based on the history of patients brought to San Lazaro, one of the country’s leading referral center for infectious diseases.

Tetanus becomes fatal when a patient suffers respiratory arrest as a result of a massive spasm.