What is it?
Tetanus is a serious infectious disease caused by a bacterium. This bacterium occurs all over the world, including in the Netherlands, in soil, street dirt, manure and dust. When this bacterium enters a wound it produces toxins that can cause severe muscle spasms throughout the body. Tetanus can be fatal if the respiratory muscles are also affected.
How do you catch it?
The bacterium that causes tetanus is transmitted when a wound comes into contact with soil, street dirt, manure or dust. Transmission is also possible if the bacterium penetrates the mucous membranes. People cannot infect one another. Indirect infection is possible, however, for example through the bite of an animal that has street dirt in its mouth, or through a prick from a thorn on a flower or plant. The time between infection and the first symptoms varies from 3 to 21 days, occasionally extending to several months.
How do you prevent it?
The only way to prevent infection with the bacterium that causes tetanus is vaccination. Anyone who has never been vaccinated against this disease is advised to do so. The vaccination against tetanus is the DTP vaccination, a single vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and polio. The vaccination is part of the Dutch National Immunisation Programme. A booster vaccination is needed if you are travelling to a country where polio occurs and it is more than 10 years since your last vaccination. You should receive a DTP vaccination at least three days before departure and it protects you for up to 10 years.
In addition to the conditions at your destination, your personal situation and travel plans are variables that have a decisive influence on the preparations you may wish, or be required, to make before you travel. At Amsterdam Travel Clinic you can obtain expert travel medicine advice and the vaccination mentioned above. We keep this vaccination in stock.
The above description is only a general, brief and simplified account and is provided for information purposes only. No rights may be derived from it. Personal advice is provided solely during a consultation with the specially trained Certified Travel Medicine Physician or Travel Medicine Assistant.