Tetanus symptoms and prevention

Tetanus (lockjaw) is a disease caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetanus. Also called lockjaw because of muscle spasms in the jaw. Tetanus are found in developing countries.


CAUSE
An-aerobic bacteria Clostridium tetanus. Of Clostridium tetanus spores can live for years in soil and animal feces. If the tetanus bacteria enter the human body, infection can occur either into the scars and wounds in the shallows. After the birth process, infection can occur in the mother's womb and navel newborn (neonatal tetanus).

Which causes the onset of symptoms of infection are poisons produced by bacteria, not bacteria.


SYMPTOMS
The symptoms usually appear within 5-10 days after infection, but can also occur within 2 days or 50 days after infection. The most common symptom is stiffness of the jaw. Other symptoms of anxiety, impaired swallowing, headache, fever, sore throat, chills, muscle spasms and a stiff neck, arms and legs.

Patients may have difficulty in opening the jaw (trismus). Spasms in the muscles of facial expression causes sufferers like grin with eyebrows raised. Stiffness or spasm muscles of the abdomen, neck and back can cause the patient's head and pulled back heel while his body bent forward. Sphincter muscle spasms in the lower abdomen can cause constipation and urine retention.

Minor disturbances, such as noise, air flow or shock, can trigger muscle spasms are accompanied by pain and excessive sweating. During the convulsions the whole body occurs, the patient can not speak because his chest muscle stiffness or spasm of the throat. It also causes respiratory problems resulting in lack of oxygen.

Usually no fever. Breathe pace and heart rate and reflexes are usually increased. Tetanus can also be limited to a group of muscles around the wound. Seizures around the wound may persist for several weeks.


Diagnosis
Allegedly a case of tetanus muscle stiffness or spasms in someone who has a wound. To confirm the diagnosis can be done culturing bacteria from wound swabs.


TREATMENT
To neutralize the poison, administered tetanus immunoglobulin. Tetrasiklintetrasiklin and penicillin antibiotics given to prevent further formation of toxins.

Other drugs may be given to calm the patient, controlling convulsions and relax muscles. Patients are usually hospitalized and placed in a quiet room. For moderate to severe infections, may need a ventilator to assist breathing. Food is given through an IV or a nasogastric tube. To remove dirt, mounted catheter. The patient should lie alternately tilted to the left or right and was forced to cough to prevent pneumonia.

To reduce pain are given codeine. Other drugs may be given to control blood pressure and heart rate. After recovering, should be given full vaccination for tetanus infection does not confer immunity against subsequent infections.


Prognosis

Tetanus has a mortality rate of up to 50%. Usually the deaths occur in people who are very young, very old and injecting drug users. If symptoms worsen immediately or if treatment is delayed, then the prognosis is poor.


PREVENTION
Prevent tetanus through vaccination is much better than cure. In children, the tetanus vaccine given as part of the DPT vaccine (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus). Adults should receive a booster.

In a person who has a wound, if:

Has received a tetanus booster within the last 5 years, do not need to undergo further vaccination
Has never received a booster within the last 5 years, be vaccinated immediately
Never had to undergo vaccination or incomplete vaccination, given an injection of tetanus immunoglobulin and the first injection of vaccine 3 months.

Each wound (especially deep puncture wounds) should be cleaned thoroughly because dirt and dead tissue will facilitate the growth of the bacteria Clostridium tetanus.