title: The risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome after tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccines in adults and children in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined whether there is a risk that tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccines could cause Guillain-Barré syndrome and, if so, how large the risk is.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was based on previous active surveillance epidemiological studies of Guillain-Barré syndrome and vaccination history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A background rate of 0.3 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome per million person-weeks has been estimated. By chance, 2.2 people with the syndrome would have received tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine within the 6 weeks before onset, yet only 1 person had done so. Data on children show similar results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If an association exists, it must be extremely rare and not of public health significance.
authors.affiliation: National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuttle
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rantala
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cherry
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hadler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D013745:Tetanus Toxoid