Active Immunization Against Tetanus of Children Suffering with Diabetes mellitus

The authors report on the anti-tetanus reimmunization of 76 diabetic children and adolescents hospitalized in the Diabetic Ward for Children in Varshetz. All patients had insulin-deficient diabetes and they were treated with insulin Lente. The diet was limited and physiological. Thirty-nine of the patients had diabetes in a state of compensation, while the remaining 37 patients were in a state of decompensation without acetonuria.

The reimmunization was well tolerated and no strong general and local reactions were observed.

The authors do not establish statistically significant differences during an overnight period in the blood sugar level and the degree of glucosuria before and after reimmunization. They conclude that the immunization does not disturb the metabolic processes.

On the 20th day after the reimmunization 98.6% of the children showed a high antitoxic titre, which suggests that the capacity of diabetics to elaborate a good anti-tetanus immunity is unimpaired.

It is recommended that patients with diabetes should be immunized against tetanus during a stage of stabilized diabetes metabolism.