DISEASE - TETANUS

TETANUS

Hello everyone ! 

Today we are going to give you information about ‘Tetanus’ . It’s is not mention in HA 2nd year but we are here to discuss about it let's start.....

Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. When the bacteria invade the body, they produce a poison (toxin) that causes painful muscle contractions.

Tetanus is also called lockjaws because it is 

bacterial infection characterized by muscle spasms. In the most common type, the spasms begin in the jaw . A person who experiences a puncture wound with a contaminated object can develop the infection, which can affect the whole body. It can be fatal.

In the United States, there are about 30 cases a year. These are mostly people who have not been vaccinated against tetanus . Tetanus is a medical emergency. It will need aggressive wound treatment and antibiotics.

Tetanus is caused by the Clostridium tetani bacterium.

Clostridium tetani spores are able to survive for a long time outside of the body. They are most commonly found in animal manure and contaminated soil, but may exist virtually anywhere.

When Clostridium tetani enter the body, they multiply rapidly and release tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin. When tetanospasmin enters the bloodstream, it rapidly spreads around the body, causing tetanus symptoms.

Tetanospasmin interferes with the signals traveling from the brain to the nerves in the spinal cord, and then on to the muscles, causing muscle spasms and stiffness.

Clostridium tetani enters the body mainly through skin cut or puncture wounds. Thoroughly cleaning any cut helps prevent an infection from developing.

Common way of causes of tetanus 

* wounds that have been contaminated with saliva or feces

* burns

* crush injuries

* wounds that include dead tissue

* puncture wounds

Rare way of connecting/causes tetanus

* surgical procedures

* superficial wounds

* insect bites

* compound fractures

* intravenous drug use

* injections into the muscle

* dental infections

Symptoms 

Tetanus symptoms usually emerge about 7 to 10 days after initial infection. However, this can vary from 4 days to about 3 weeks, and may, in some cases, may take months.

In general, the further the injury site is from the central nervous system, the longer the incubation period. Patients with shorter incubation times tend to have more severe symptoms.

Muscle symptoms include spasms and stiffness. Stiffness usually starts with the chewing muscles, hence the name lockjaw.

Muscle spasms then spread to the neck and throat, causing difficulties with swallowing. Patients often have spasms in their facial muscles.

Breathing difficulties may result from neck and chest muscle stiffness. In some people, abdominal and limb muscles are also affected.

In severe cases, the spine will arch backward as the back muscles become affected. This is more common when children experience a tetanus infection.

Major symptoms of

 tetanus are as follow

* bloody stools

* diarrhea

* fever

* headache

* sensitivity to touch

* sore throat

* sweating

* rapid heartbeat

Prevention

Most cases of tetanus occur in people who have never had the vaccine or who did not have a booster shot within the previous decade.

Treatment 

Any cut or wound must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent infection. A tetanus-prone wound should be treated by a medical professional immediately

* a wound or burn that requires surgical intervention that is delayed for over 6 hours

* a wound or burn that has a considerable amount of removed tissue

* any puncture-type injury that has been in contact with manure or soil

* serious fractures where the bone is exposed to infection, such as compound fractures

* wounds or burns in patients with systemic sepsis

= Above point are likely to develop tetanus 

Some patients may need ventilator support to help with breathing if their vocal cords or respiratory muscles are affected.

Any patient with a wound listed above should receive tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) as soon as possible, even if they have been vaccinated. Tetanus immunoglobulin contains antibodies that kill Clostridium tetani. It is injected into a vein and provides immediate short-term protection against tetanus.

TIG is just short-term and does not replace the long-term effects of vaccination. Experts say that TIG injections can be safely administered to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Doctors may prescribe penicillin or metronidazole for tetanus treatment. These antibiotics prevent the bacterium from multiplying and producing the neurotoxin that causes muscle spasms and stiffness.

Patients who are allergic to penicillin or metronidazole may be given tetracycline instead.

Muscle spasms and stiffness, patients may be prescribed by the following points :

* Anticonvulsants, such as diazepam (Valium), relax the muscles to prevent spasms, reduce anxiety, and work as a sedative.

* Muscle relaxants, such as baclofen, suppress nerve signals from the brain to the spinal cord, resulting in less muscle tension.

* Neuromuscular blocking agentsblock the signals from nerves to muscle fibers and are useful in controlling muscle spasms. They include pancuronium and vecuronium.

A patient with tetanus requires a high daily calorie intake because of increased muscle activity.

 In case  of emergency /Doctors should have to do surgery . If the doctor thinks the tetanus prone wound is very large, they may surgically remove as much of the damaged and infected muscle as possible (debridement).

Debridement is the act of removing dead or contaminated tissue, or foreign material. In the case of a tetanus-prone wound, the foreign material may be dirt or manure.

Vaccination of tetanus 

The tetanus vaccine is routinely given to children as part of the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) shot.

The DTaP vaccine consists of five shots, usually given in the arm or thigh of children when they are aged:

* 2 months

* 4 months

* 6 months

* 15 to 18 months

* 4 to 6 years

A booster is normally given between the ages of 11 and 18 years, and then another booster every 10 years. If an individual is traveling to an area where tetanus is common, they should check with a doctor regarding vaccinations.

If the patients does not receive proper treatment in time different complications may happen . Such as :

* Fractures: Sometimes, in severe cases, the muscle spasms and convulsions may lead to bone fractures.

* Aspiration pneumonia: If secretions or contents of the stomach are inhaled, a lower respiratory tract infection can develop, leading to pneumonia.

* Laryngospasm: The voice box goes into a spasm which can last up to a minute and cause breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the patient can suffocate.

* Tetanic seizures: If infection spreads to the brain, the person with tetanus can experience fits.

* Pulmonary embolism: A blood vessel in the lung can become blocked and affect breathing and circulation. The patient will urgently need oxygen therapy and anti-clotting medication.

* Severe kidney failure (acute renal failure): Severe muscle spasms can result in the destruction of skeletal muscle which can cause a muscle protein to leak into the urine. This can cause severe kidney failure.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), currently tetanus has a roughly 11% mortality rate .

Diagnosis may take longer with patients who inject drugs because they often have other medical conditions .

Anybody who experiences muscle spasms and stiffness should seek medical attention immediately.

Note :

 -Infection Name : Tetanus 

Causes: Clostridium tetani

Symptoms: Muscle spasms, fever, headache

Deaths: 56,700 till now (According to the data of 2015).

One thing in our other blog spots you may found other diseases that are also known as five killer diseases .

*  Diarrhoea, 

* Measles, 

* Whooping cough, 

* Tetanus and 

* Fever.

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