Tetanus Case In Chch. Hospital

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30964, 21 January 1966, Page 3

Tetanus Case In Chch. Hospital

An Akaroa woman, aged 48, suffering from tetanus, was admitted to Christchurch Hospital this week. The case was described by a doctor as sufficiently rare to be unusual.

Treatment of tetanus requires special nursing, isolation and absolute quiet. For this reason the lift serving the patient’s ward has been stopped. The woman cut a finger about a fortnight ago, and had been receiving medical attention in Akaroa before her admission to hospital. A doctor said that tetanus was commonly known as lockjaw when it took that form. It was an acute infectious disease caused by a toxin in which there were more or less persistent muscular spasms. Dr. K. F. X. Bourke, deputy medical officer of health in Christchurch, said yesterday that during the last 10 years, there had been 348 cases of tetanus in New Zealand. Of these, 140 of the victims had died. “Most tetanus infections can be prevented by active immunisation against tetanus,” said Dr. Bourke. “Anyone can be exposed to it. Active immunisation should be sought especially by farmers, gardeners, butchers, freezing workers, those working with wool and hides, and mechanics. “Infection can result from

a minor injury, often thought to be too slight to need medical treatment. Active immunisation is simple, and available to anyone from any medical practitioner.”