On 12/2/07 15:58, in article , "D Russell"
wrote:

Sacha wrote:

Just a word of warning to those who haven't had a tetanus jab lately.
Please keep up to date! Those working with sharp implements and/or
delving
into the soil need them. My husband tried to separate two of our dogs
having a fight last Friday and got bitten on his left hand. He absolutely
refused to go to the doctor, doing his tough ex-Para 'thing' (!)
Consequently, on Sunday morning he was in so much pain and his hand so
swollen, with the pain travelling up his arm, that he had to go to our
local
hospital for a tetanus jab and has been put on hefty antibiotics. We're
going to the doctor this morning for a check up because while it has
improved, his hand is still very swollen and poisoned and he can't use it
at
all. On top of this, he has been in bed, feeling pretty poorly and
sleeping
a lot, since last Sunday. This is extremely unlike him! So, if you fall
into any 'at risk' category, please visit your doctor!

I was told by our GP that unless the wound requires hospital treatment they
won't give you a tetanus booster anymore. Might well be their little get
our clause, since they may have judged that in this case he obviously
needed hospital treatment.

No, at the point he was given his tet jab they didn't know he'd have to go
to hospital, so I don't think it was that. I think it's more likely that he
not only couldn't remember when he last had one but couldn't remember how
many he's had. I asked him the latter question this morning and he thinks
he had one when he did his National Service but otherwise can't remember
having any others!

I was told something like it's now generally considered to be 5 for life,
i.e. 5 jabs and you're protected for life.

Duncan

I thought it was 3 but there might be variations on a theme.

--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
http://www.discoverdartmoor.co.uk/
(remove weeds from address)