An Open Wound = An Open Door for Tetanus

One day you wake up, ready to go about your day-to-day routine. If it’s another day at work, you shower, get dressed, and head out the door. If it’s a day off, you might just head out to exercise, jog, or explore the outside world. But then you run into a little accident and you cut yourself, scrape the skin off a part of your flesh, or end up having an open wound after stepping on a nail or getting scraped by an object you walked by.

            Little do we know that such insignificant wounds sometimes may open the door for various infections that many of us do not expect to enter our body. This is one of the ways that Tetanus infection occurs amongst millions of people worldwide per year. Tetanus is a painful and deadly infection that causes severe muscle spasms as a result of contamination of the central nervous system. The infection is known to enter an individual’s body through open wounds or an injury that leaves an opening in the body for the infection to enter.

            Now, you are probably wondering, “But how can an infection as severe as Tetanus enter a random individual?” It all depends where you are situated, what kind of environment you’re in, and if any wounds in your body are exposed. The infection mostly resides in spores that contain the bacteria C. tetani which is found in the soil, animal feces, animal teeth, fungi, and certain plants. It’s the bacteria that causes Tetanus. The infection is more prevalent in warm and damp climates with soil rich in organic matter. If you one day injure yourself and your open wounds make contact with soil, it is important to contact your health provider about any risk of Tetanus infection.

Symptoms of the infection depend on the duration of the incubation period which in turn depends on how far the injury is from the central nervous system. Symptoms may appear between 7-21 days after infection and its first signs are mild spasms in the jaw, chest, neck, back, and abdominal muscles. In later stages, symptoms worsen causing sudden, painful, and severe muscle contractions and spasms that can cause fractures and muscle tears.

If muscles that assist with breathing are affected, the person may suffer breathing problems or suffocation. All this is the result of the bacteria of the infection releasing a poison in the body that blocks nerve signals from the spinal cord to the muscles. About 11% of all Tetanus cases become fatal due to heart failure, respiratory arrest, brain damage, and airway obstruction.

There is no known cure for Tetanus but according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), what is highly recommended for prevention of the infection is vaccination. How soon should it be taken? As soon as possible especially if you are an individual who explores the outdoors frequently or likes to travel. CDCP also recommends for children and infants to take the vaccine to prevent infection. Once more, side-effects should not be of any great concern. They are minor ranging from fever, swelling, and soreness around the area of injection. The affects of the vaccine lasts up to 10 years and patients are recommended to receive boosters every 10 years to preserve the vaccine within their immune system. The tetanus vaccination is considered the most important factor in preventing infection. For more info, visit us at our website at www.travelclinicny.com or call us at 212-696-5900 to schedule an appointment if you are considering vaccination. A clean bill of health is always bliss!

The Lexicon of Hepatitis A & Why You Should Get Vaccinated

     Who ever takes into consideration when they are eating or when they are outside that what we sometimes take or breathe into our bodies is not the healthiest or safest entity for our body’s function? It would only seem natural that what the earth produces was made for man’s benefit and never for their harm, but with the existence of bacteria in our environment, our immune system is subject to many risks that we don’t see nor taste. This is especially the case when individuals travel to other countries and/or cities that are still in the development phase or that have poor hygiene standards and because of this, neutralization of certain diseases is slow. One of these is Hepatitis A which is a worldwide viral disease. In mostly low-income regions is the virus more prevalent. The virus is not known to become fatal (mortality rate is only 0.5%) but the symptoms and the effects on an individual’s health is a burden that nobody would want to carry. Fatigue, consistent itching, loss of appetite, severe fever, nausea and vomiting, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and the darkening of the urine (due to liver infection) are just some of the symptoms of Hepatitis A.

     Hepatitis A can infect an individual in any region in the world where sanitary conditions are poor but it is especially more common in Asia, Eastern Europe, South and Central America. It can be transmitted through sexual contact with an individual who has the virus through anal-oral contact, contaminated food and water (especially fruit, vegetables, and shellfish), or through an individual with poor hygiene such as lack of proper hand-washing or showering and that touches objects and food after bathroom breaks.   

There is no known cure for Hepatitis A but there are ways to prevent infection, the most important being vaccination. Every day, we surround ourselves with individuals who we don’t know how their hygiene is and because nowadays most people choose to eat outside, unbeknownst to the individual, the purity and cleanness of what they are taking in may very well be lacking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the best way to prevent Hepatitis A is by getting vaccinated. Here are three reasons why the vaccination should be considered and taken by individuals:

•  If you are an individual that likes to travel and are planning to do so this summer, the vaccine should be considered especially if you are visiting a region where hepatitis A is prevalent
•  If you have had close personal contact with someone who is infected, whether it is a spouse, sexual partner (especially anal-oral contact), or family member.
•  If you are an individual whose occupation involves working with animals, primates, children and people who are sick especially in veterinarians, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals.

     The side-effects of the Hepatitis A vaccine should not turn you away nor give you reason for not considering vaccination for they are not severe and in most cases are known to be mild such as headache, tiredness, and soreness where the shot was given. If you are planning to travel, the vaccine should be taken 4 weeks before you travel to allow time for the vaccine to work. My motto is that a clean bill of health is always bliss and in reality, it really is and it is worth every investment that we make. If you are considering taking the vaccine and seeking more info, visit us at our website at www.travelclinicny.com or call us at 212-696-5900 to schedule an appointment. A worry-free and healthy summer is bliss!

Protect Yourself against the Yellow Fever Virus

            If you’re planning on traveling in Africa or Latin America in the near future, you may need to think beyond packing sunscreen and booking accommodations.  Visiting many countries in the regions carries high risk of contracting yellow fever. 

            Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus.  It is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito, and cannot be passed among humans.  Typically, people with yellow fever have to be hospitalized.  It can cause fever, jaundice, bleeding, organ failure, and even death in many serious cases.  There is no cure for the virus, making prevention all the more important. 

            Other than avoiding mosquitoes, an almost impossible task, there is no other way to prevent the virus than getting vaccinated.  The yellow fever vaccination is only given at certain vaccination centers such as Travel Clinic New York.

            The vaccine is recommended by the CDC for most individuals traveling to high-risk areas over the age of 9 months as well as lab personnel who might come into contact with the virus.  Although people outside of high-risk areas are not recommended the vaccine, yellow fever can affect a wide geographic area, including the United States, and can prevent yellow fever wherever it may occur.  The risks are also relatively mild, making the vaccine suitable for the vast majority of people. 

            As if preventing yellow fever wasn’t sufficient reason to get vaccinated, many countries require proof of vaccination or a “yellow card” for entry.  A “yellow card” is given to all vaccinated persons and is valid between 10 days after vaccination and 10 years after vaccination.  If you have previously had the vaccine and are planning on traveling, make sure that it is up to date!

            If you have questions about the vaccine, please consult your doctor and the CDC's FAQs.