CHECKUP MILLIONS NOT GETTING THE TETANUS BOOSTS THEY NEED.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

Millions of Americans lack immunity to tetanus and diphtheria because they fail to follow federal guidelines that call for regular booster shots against the diseases, a new study finds.

It found that many Americans were immunized against tetanus and diphtheria early in their lives, but became vulnerable to infection by skipping the boosters.

The lead author, Dr. Geraldine M. McQuillan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and her colleagues said doctors need to be more aggressive about immunizing.

Although the two diseases are rare in the United States - routine immunizations have been given since the late 1940s - infections do occur, and if the booster problem persists, that could widen the spread, the authors said. Booster shots are supposed to be given every 10 years.

The study was based on analyzing antibodies in blood from more than 18,000 people 6 and older. It found that 60.5 percent of Americans were protected against diphtheria and 72.3 percent against tetanus. But the numbers varied based on factors such as income, sex and, above all, age. By 70, 45 percent of men and 21 percent of women had tetanus protection.

Some differences follow broad trends. People with more education were more likely to be protected. But some differences were hard to explain. People who said they had routine access to medical care and regular doctors were less likely to have sufficient immunity.

NEW JOINT EFFORTS: German scientists have developed a new technique using laser imaging to measure inflammation in the finger joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis. Much like children holding flashlights to their hands to see the bones inside, laser imaging sees through the skin and the picture is captured on a computer, according to the recent study.

The advantages of using this device are that it's easy to use, noninvasive and inexpensive. It may also eventually provide doctors with a way to more accurately assess arthritis patients, the study says.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects more than 2 million people in the United States, reports the Arthritis Foundation. It causes inflammation of the lining of the joints, most commonly in the hands or feet. Symptoms of the disease include pain, swelling and redness of the affected joints.

Early treatment is important, because it helps stop joint damage. The problem is that early diagnosis of the disease is sometimes difficult, says study author Dr. Alexander Scheel, from the department of Nephrology and Rheumatology at Georg-August-University of Gottingen in Germany.

FREE SCREENINGS: The American College of Asthma and Immunology will be offering free asthma screenings Saturday at several area locations as part of a nationwide campaign. Adults and children are invited to take a Life Quality question-and-answer survey, a lung function test and meet with a physician who specializes in asthma and allergies. The nearest locations and times for the Saturday screenings are: Pacific View Mall Senior Health and Fitness Fair, 3301 E. Main St., Ventura, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Wal-Mart, 19821 Rinaldi, Porter Ranch, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, go online to allergy.mcg.edu or call Dr. Paul Qaqundah at [phone].