Tetanus is an infection causes due to bacteria called Clostridium tetani. When bacteria invade the body, they produce a toxin that causes painful muscle contractions. Another name for tetanus is “lockjaw”. This often causes a person’s neck and jaw muscles to contract, making it difficult to open the mouth or swallow. Tetanus is different from other vaccine-preventable diseases because it is not spread from person to person. These bacteria are commonly found in soil, dust, and manure and enter the body through breaks in the skin – usually cuts or puncture wounds caused by contaminated objects.
Today, tetanus is uncommon in the United States, with an average of about 30 cases reported each year. Almost all cases of tetanus are among people who did not receive all the recommended tetanus vaccines. This includes people who have never had a tetanus vaccine and adults who are not up to date on their 10-year booster shots.
Effects of Tetanus
Tetanus bacteria infects certain breaks in the skin. These include:
- Wounds contaminated with dirt, feces (feces), or saliva (saliva).
- Injuries caused by an object that punctures the skin (puncture wounds) such as a nail or needle
- burns
- Crushing wounds
- Injuries with dead tissue.
Ways Tetanus Gets Into Your Body
Tetanus bacteria infects the body through breaks in the skin:
- Clean superficial wounds (when only the top layer of skin is scratched)
- Surgical procedures
- Insect bites
- Dental infections
- Compound fracture (a break in the bone where it is exposed)
- Chronic wounds and infections
- Intravenous (IV) drug use
- Intramuscular injections (shots into the muscles)
Symptoms of Tetanus
Symptoms of tetanus include:
- Jaw pain
- Sudden, involuntary tightening of muscles (muscle spasms) – often in the abdomen
- Painful muscle stiffness throughout the body
- Trouble swallowing
- Shaking or staring (seizures)
- Headache
- Fever and sweating.
- Changes in blood pressure and heart rate
Complications
Serious health problems that can be caused by tetanus include:
- Uncontrolled/involuntary tightening of the vocal cords (laryngospasm)
- broken bones (fractures)
- Infections acquired by a patient during a hospital visit (hospital-acquired infection)
- Blockage of the main lung artery or one of its branches by a blood clot that travels through the bloodstream from another part of the body (pulmonary embolism)
- Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs, caused by breathing in foreign material (aspiration pneumonia).
- Difficulty breathing, possibly leading to death (2 in 10 cases are fatal)
Diagnosis
Doctors diagnose this based on a physical exam, medical and vaccination history, and signs and symptoms of muscle spasms, muscle stiffness, and pain. Laboratory tests will probably only be used if your doctor suspects another condition because of signs and symptoms. But No hospital laboratory test can confirm this disease. Tetanus must be differentiated from other diseases that present with fever and rigors such as strychnine poisoning, dental infections, drug reactions, hypocalcemia, meningitis, paralysis, and stiff-man syndrome.
Treatment
If the doctor thinks the wound is likely to cause tetanus, but you don’t have any symptoms yet, they will make sure the wound is cleaned thoroughly. They can also give you an injection of tetanus immunoglobulin. If you have not been fully immunized against it, or you are not sure if you have, you may be given a single dose of the tetanus vaccine. You may also be given antibiotics. But Tetanus immunoglobulin is a drug that contains antibodies that block the toxin from working, stopping its effects on the nerves.
It provides immediate, but short-term protection against it. If you develop symptoms of this disease, you will usually need to be admitted to a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU), where you may be given a number of different treatments. So These may include immunoglobulin, antibiotics, and medications that help with muscle stiffness and spasms. Most people who develop symptoms of tetanus recover, but it may take several weeks or months.
Vaccination
The tetanus vaccine is given as part of the NHS childhood vaccination program. A full course of vaccination consists of 5 injections, usually given on the following schedule: The first 3 doses are given at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age as part of a 6-in-1 vaccine. So, A booster dose is given at 3 years and 4 months of age as part of a 4-in-1 preschool booster. A final dose is given at age 14 as part of the 3-in-1 Teenage Booster.
This course of 5 injections provides long-lasting protection against it. However, if you or your child has a deep or dirty wound, it is best to seek medical advice. If you are not sure whether you have had the full course of vaccinations, contact your GP surgery for advice. It is possible to fully vaccinate older children and adults who were not vaccinated at an early age.
Prevention
Tetanus can be prevented by immunization with the toxoid-containing vaccine (TTCV), which is included in routine immunization programs worldwide and administered during antenatal care contacts. Is. For lifelong protection, WHO recommends that an individual receive 6 doses of TTCV (3 primaries plus 3 booster doses). A primary series of 3 doses should begin at 6 weeks of age, with subsequent doses given at least 4 weeks apart between doses. 3 booster doses should be given preference in the second year of life (12–23 months), at ages 4–7 years, and at ages 9–15 years.
A number of vaccines are used to prevent tetanus, all of which are combined with vaccines for other diseases:
- Diphtheria and tetanus (DT) vaccine
- Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine
- Tetanus and Diphtheria (TD) vaccine
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (TDAP) vaccine
Neonatal tetanus can be prevented by immunizing women of reproductive age with TTCV, either during or outside of pregnancy. Additionally, strong medical practices can also prevent this disease, including clean delivery and cord care during childbirth, and proper wound care for surgical and dental procedures. In countries where national programs have maintained high immunization coverage for decades, their incidence rates are very low.