TETANUS
Tetanus is a disease that is commonly found in soil, affects the central nervous system, and can be fatal with painful muscle contractions. Any type of injury resulting from bicycle accidents carries a risk of tetanus.
Causes
The tetanus germ is extremely common in nature. It can be found in abundance in soil, water, and even air. Therefore, especially dust on rural roads and the soil of fields and gardens are the main routes of transmission. Through skin abrasions and injuries, the germ reaches the organism. There are no definitive criteria to determine whether a wound is a tetanus infection. In some cases, even the abrasion through which the germ entered the body may not be apparent. Furthermore, the tetanus germ can remain alive for a long time without becoming active (latent/incubation period). For these reasons, all outdoor sports and especially bicycle riders constitute the population most open to the transmission of the disease.
Protection
The tetanus vaccine provides effective protection. According to some sources, immunity against tetanus can be provided by being vaccinated every 5 or 10 years.
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