Tetanus

June 16, 2018 Source: Internal - Usman K - Tetanus

What is Tetanus?

Parent? Worker? Capitalist? Student? Everyone's had an instant that brought up the need for a Tetanus shot, whether it was for your kid stepping on a nail or being told to take a shot by your school, don't be nervous, this blog will help you understand more. Tetanus is a disease of the nervous system and its caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani.

What are its symptoms? How is it transmitted?

The initial symptoms of tetanus include restlessness, irritability, a stiff neck, and difficulty swallowing, it can infect the motor nerves and leave you with the iconic Lockjaw. It can also cause convulsions with gradual muscular spasm; opisthotonos. Maybe even respiratory muscle spasms which lead to asphyxia and then death. A person usually becomes infected when dirt enters a wound, usually a wound caused by a nail, knife, tools, or, splinters. This disease is not contagious.

Who can contract Tetanus?

All humans and other warm-blooded animals are susceptible to tetanus. People who have been wounded by dirty tools that cut deep are vulnerable because those tools wound profoundly and allow dirt to proliferate but remain localized and reproduce.

What can you do about it?

Visit your clinic! Get a vaccine before its too late. Tetanus is difficult to treat since no one knows exactly what the toxin does. Most doctors just give large doses of penicillin to kill any bacteria present, muscle spasms are dealt with barbiturates and diazepam; severe spasms need a curarelike agent. A tracheostomy may be necessary to minimize respiratory complications. All in all, to avoid the misery of reading this, just vaccinate!