Tetanus : causes, symptoms, types, diagnosis, treatment and prevention (1)

1
Tetanus
2
Tetanus

• Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is a serious
  infection caused by Clostridium tetani this
  bacterium produces a toxin that affects the brain
  and nervous system, leading to stiffness in the
  muscles.
• Infection often causes muscle contractions in the
  jaw and neck, but it can eventually spread to
  other parts of the body
• Clostridium tetani spores are deposited in a
  wound, the neurotoxin interferes with nerves that
  control muscle movement
• The infection can cause severe muscle spasms,
  serious breathing difficulties, and can
  ultimately be fatal.

3
Symptoms

• Symptoms of infection
• Symptoms of tetanus usually arrange around 7-10
  days of initial infection, but in some cases it
  can takes weeks or even months.
• Symptoms usually starts from muscle spasms
  and muscle stiffness, and stiffness usually
  starts with the chewing muscles and then it
  spread to neck and throat, where patient have
  difficulty swallowing.
• It can also cause breathing difficulties due to
  chest and neck muscle difficulties.
• Spine and back muscle may also get affected to
  due the infection.
• Other symptoms other than muscles may include
• Fast heart rate
• Fever
• Sweating
• High blood pressure

4
Causes of tetanus

• Bacteria called Clostridium tetani cause tetanus.
  Spores of the bacteria can be found in dust,
  dirt, and animal droppings.
• Spores are small reproductive bodies produced by
  certain organisms. They are often very resistant
  to harsh environmental conditions, like high
  heat.
• A person can become infected when these spores
  enter the bloodstream through a cut or deep
  wound.
• The bacteria spores then spread to the central
  nervous system and produce a toxin called
  tetanospasmin. This toxin is a poison that blocks
  the nerve signals from your spinal cord to your
  muscles

5
The infection can be associated with

• Burns
• Puncture wounds from piercings, tattoos, or
  injection drug use
• Animal bites
• Wounds contaminated with dirt, feces, or saliva
• Dental infection
• Insect bites
• Chronic sores and infections

6
Treatment

• Treatment of tetanus
• Certain treatments for tetanus may include
• Cleaning the wound to get rid of the source of
  the bacteria. In some cases, a surgical procedure
  called debridement is used to remove dead or
  infected tissue.
• Antibiotics like penicillin to kill the bacteria
  in your system
• Tetanus immune globulin (TIG) to neutralize the
  toxins that the bacteria have created in your
  body
• Muscle relaxers to control muscle spasms
• A tetanus vaccine is given along with the
  treatment
• I case a person having difficulty swallowing and
  breathing, he/she may need a breathing tube or
  ventilator (a machine that moves air in and out
  of the lungs).

7
Diagnosis of tetanus

• A physical examination is done by the doctor who
  checks for muscle stiffness and painful spasms.
• No lab test is needed for the diagnosis of
  tetanus, but in some cases, lab test are done to
  rule out meningitis (bacterial infection that
  affects brain and spinal cord) and rabies (causes
  brain swelling).

8
Prevention of tetanus

• Vaccination is the only way for the prevention
  of tetanus. But the booster may be taken in right
  time.
• A tetanus booster is given to a child for 5 times
  during the age of 2 months, 4 months, 6 months,
  15-18 months and 4-6 years
• A booster is normally given between the age of
  11-14 years
• Then another booster for every 10 years.

9
CONNECT WITH US

• Logon to
• www.lazoi.com
• Like us on Facebook
• https//www.facebook.com/LazoiTheLife
• Follow us on Twitter
• https//www.twitter.com/lazoithelife
• Follow us on Pinterest
• https//www.in.pinterest.com/lazoithelife