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Medicina dello Sport 2001 June;54(2):157-63

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Prevention of tetanus in sporting activity

Rea N., Di Reggiero G.

Istituto Regionale di Medicina dello Sport della Campania

Tetanus is a toxic-infectious disease presenting a high mortality. Its prophylaxis is accomplished by immunity measures, active (vaccine) and passive (specific immunoglobulins) immunization, and non immunity measures, local surgical prophylaxis and antibiotic-therapy: indications and modality of applications are well codified, at present. In Italy, according to the law, antitetanic vaccination is obligatory for newborn children, some categories of workmen and «sportsmen, at the moment of the affiliation to the CONI’s Federations"; furthermore, sportsmen are obliged to submit periodic booster dose vaccinations for the whole period of the aforesaid affiliation. Indeed, subjects practising sports independently from CONI’s Federations are not obliged to antitetanic vaccination. Therefore, we think that these latter require a particular surveillance for the prevention of tetanus.