About Tetanus

Tetanus is a bacterial disease caused by a toxin. Clostridium tetani spores (spores of tetanus bacteria) are found most often in soil but are present everywhere. The disease affects muscles, especially the jaw and neck muscle. For this reason, tetanus is also referred to as lockjaw. According to the Centers for Disease Control, tetanus causes death in one out of every ten people who contract it.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of tetanus include:
  Spasms in the jaw, neck, chest, abdomen and back as the toxin spreads to the nerves of the body.
  Stiffness in the jaw, neck, chest, abdomen and back.
  Difficulty swallowing
  Difficulty breathing
  Fever and sweating
  Muscle contractions around wound area.
  Rapid heartbeat and elevated blood pressure

Time Frame

• Symptoms from tetanus infection appear anywhere between three days to three weeks. The average duration before symptoms manifest is eight days. Symptom timeframe correlates with wound site. Symptoms take longer to appear the farther the wound is from the central nervous system.

Considerations

• Consult a physician if you receive a deep or dirty wound and have not had a tetanus shot within the past five years, or if you are not sure of your last vaccination date. If you haven't had a booster shot within the last 10 years, consult your physician after receiving any wound.

Diagnosis and Treatment

• Tetanus is diagnosed based on physical exam by a doctor that includes signs and symptoms of muscle spasms and stiffness, along with pain. Blood tests usually don't help with diagnosing tetanus.
  Medications used to treat tetanus include antibiotics to fight the bacteria, antitoxins to neutralize toxin that hasn't combined with nerve tissue and tetanus vaccine.
  Care in a facility may also be required if a person needs breathing help with a ventilator or experiences paralysis of muscles.

Prevention

• Tetanus can be prevented by getting vaccines and booster shots at the appropriate intervals. Wound care is also important in the prevention of tetanus.
  Proper wound care includes the following:
  Clean the wound and area around it with soap and water.
  Use an antibiotic ointment on the wound.
  Cover the wound to avoid harmful bacteria.
  Change wound dressing once a day, or if it gets wet or dirty.

Warnings

• Although there is treatment for tetanus, it is often not effective. Death results from pneumonia, airway constriction and problems with the autonomic nervous system that controls the heart and other involuntary muscles.
  Some people who do recover from tetanus have lasting effects such as brain damage.