Firecracker victims warned of tetanus infection

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has warned those who sustained even minor cuts or burns from firecracker blasts to see a doctor for proper management and prevention of fatal complications like tetanus infection.

Based on the website of the Department of Health (DOH), tetanus infection occurs when spores of Clostridium tetanus pathogens enter the body through breaches in the skin such as those caused by firecrackers.  

The incubation period is between three to 21 days, during which time the tetanus can set in after the wounds or burns are acquired.

To prevent infection, the victims should get anti-tetanus shots. 

The DOH also reported yesterday that a two-year-old girl from Manila was hospitalized after she ingested luces or sparklers on New Year’s Eve.

According to DOH, a sibling of the girl put the pyrotechnic into her mouth. She was brought to the University of the Philippines hospital for treatment.

The girl is among 52 new cases of fireworks-related injuries monitored by the DOH that brought to 339 the total number of cases documented since Dec. 21, which is an increase of five percent compared to the same period in 2018.

“This year’s cases is 15 cases (5 percent) increase when compared to same time period in 2018 (325) and 50 percent lower than the five-year average (2014-2018) of 685 cases in the same time period,” the DOH said.

DOH said kwitis or small rocket is the leading cause of injuries with 76 cases followed by luces (38), fountain (35), piccolo (19) and 5-star. Kwitis, luces and fountain are registered fireworks while piccolo and 5-star are banned firecrackers.

The DOH said that limbs of 14 victims were amputated while 84 others sustained eye injuries.         

Most injuries were reported from the National Capital Region (NCR) with 168 cases, with Manila having most of the cases at 53, followed by Quezon City with 34, Caloocan City (12) and Las Piñas and Mandaluyong (11 each).

NCR was followed by Western Visayas (36), Ilocos region (29), Calabarzon (23), Central Luzon (22), Cagayan Valley (16), BIcol and Western Visayas (14 each).