The Department of Health (DOH) advised penitents yesterday — especially those who self-flagellate — to have themselves vaccinated against tetanus before performing their religious penance this Holy Week.
"We hope they can get tetanus shots because this will protect them against infection," said Dr. Luningning Villa, head of the DOH’s Unit for Emerging Diseases.
The Catholic faithful traditionally undertake various forms of penance during Lent to show remorse for their sins. Some observe fasting while others go as far as joining a procession of self-flagellants on Good Friday. Some self-flagellants even have themselves nailed to wooden crosses.
Over the years, the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga have become known for such dramatic processions.
But Villa warned those who engage in self-flagellation to have their wounds cleaned with antiseptic or antibacterial solutions to prevent infections. Many penitents forego this simple safety measure, preferring to observe tradition and wash themselves in a nearby river instead.
She also urged penitents not to share whips to protect themselves from contracting blood-borne diseases such as hepatitis B, malaria and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Villa said organizers of the Good Friday procession should also make sure that the nails used by the penitents are sterilized.
"These kinds of wounds are high-risk wounds because they are exposed to dust and dirt. We just hope that they observe the proper precautionary measures so they won’t get infected," she said.
Tetanus is a disease caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which can live for years in soil and animal feces.
Dr. Arturo Cabanban, who heads the government-run San Lazaro Hospital (SLH), said in the early stage of tetanus, an infected person experiences stiffening or locking of the jaws. This progresses into generalized muscle spasms that can cause death by suffocation.
"Don’t wait for the symptoms to manifest before seeing a doctor. Delaying treatment could lead to death," he added, noting that once infection sets in, the mortality rate is 50 percent.
Cabanban said it is more costly to treat an infection than getting a preventive anti-tetanus shot. An anti-tetanus shot costs P500 to P1,000 while a month-long treatment in a hospital costs about P20,000 to P40,000.
Patients hospitalized for tetanus may require a ventilator to assist their breathing, and often need bladder and rectal catheterization to remove body waste. They are fed either intravenously or through a tube inserted through the nose and into the stomach.
Since minor disturbances, such as noise or a sudden draft, can trigger painful muscle spasms, the patients are kept in a quiet room. They are also given drugs to control their blood pressure and heart rate.