Case study: Link between tetanus injection and Epilepsy

Your letter from a homeopath (WDDTY vol 4 no10) regarding a client who had "extreme nervous system damage" after a serious reaction to a tetanus vaccination has prompted me to ask a question I have pondered for years.

In 1975, when my son was 14, he had his first epileptic fit at night, about five days after a tetanus injection following a dog bite. At the time, and again later, I asked our GP if there was any connection between the two, as the seizure was so soon after the injection. I was told that it was entirely coincidental as the tetanus vaccine was known to have no side effects. It was only when my son changed GPs, a few years ago, that his new doctor sent him for a brain scan to see if there were any underlying causes such as, scar tissue. There were none.My son's epilepsy has not affected his life; his pattern has been one of nocturnal seizures, and he has managed his own treatment on medication since he went away to college at 18. However, we would be interested to know if there is any evidence of similar reactions. M K, Exmouth......

Your former doctor has not read the medical literature. According to the US Physician's Desk Reference, the tetanus vaccine can cause damage and degeneration of the nervous system, so epilepsy is a distinct possibility. Indeed, the recent American Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine report on childhood vaccines noted that the tetanus vaccine can definitely cause nervous system damage. Nor is a lack of reaction to a first tetanus shot any guarantee that subsequent doses won't have an adverse effect. In fact, the PDR says that booster doses are more likely to increase the incidence and severity of reactions, if they are given too frequently. We are gratified to hear that your son manages his illness so well. You might wish to explore alternative treatment, such as was suggested by our correspondent homeopath, to see if you can undo the damage caused by this so called protective measure.