Overview
- Health officials cited Tuesday's National Epidemiological Bulletin to confirm tetanus in a 5-year-old in Santa Fe and to place the provincial system on alert.
- A records audit found she had only the newborn BCG and hepatitis B shots and missed all first-year and school-entry vaccines.
- She required intensive care, including mechanical ventilation and a tracheotomy, during the most serious phase of her illness.
- Doctors administered antitetanus immunoglobulin, a tetanus toxoid booster, and antibiotics after ruling out meningitis, encephalitis, and poisonings.
- Authorities note the bacterium that causes tetanus lives in soil and dust and say unvaccinated children can face long recoveries, reinforcing calls to complete the national schedule.