Tetanus is an infection caused by bacterial toxin that comes from bacterium tetani. Tetanus is a serious disease. Any untreated injury or wound that is infected by tetanus can be deadly. Early treatment should then be necessary to avoid tetanus from transpiring. A person who is suffering from tetanus may encounter symptoms that sometimes result to severe muscle spasms, which can include locking of the jaw. Tetanus infection can transpire to anyone of all ages. Babies are no exception to this.

Different Types of Tetanus

Tetanus infections are classified into two types: (a) Clostridium tetani and (b) Neonatal tetanus.

Clostridium tetani is a gram-positive, anaerobic, spore forming bacteria. This kind of bacteria can be found in manure, agricultural soil, and in feces of animals (like rats, dogs, cats, chickens and guinea pig) which can stay alive up to months or years. This bacterium is resistant and antiseptic, meaning it can still survive from even up to 100 degree centigrade temperature. It carries some bacteria toxin like tetanolysin and tetanospasmin. The one that causes tetanus is tetanospasmin, which acts as neutroxin. Once this disease infects, the person must be brought to the hospital, the earliest time possible.

Neonatal Tetanus is responsible for causing tetanus to potential victims. This kind infection is typically occurring in newborn babies. In some developing countries, some medical equipment are not sterilized. Infantile patients as such the newborn babies may then accrue tetanus because of the un-sterilized blades or knife utilized in cutting of umbilical stump. This is in fact, one of the reasons of the increasing number of babies who died from tetanus infections in these countries.

Signs and Symptoms

If you see any sign or symptom of tetanus from any member of your family, immediate action should be taken. However, tetanus symptoms may not be noticed immediately. It takes time to appear. After a couple of days from bacterial exposure, symptoms may emerge. The first symptom is a jaw spasm, also called lockjaw. The sufferer may experience difficulty in moving his jaw or swallowing foods. It is usually followed by stiffness of the back, neck and abdomen, which causes difficulty of movement. The muscular spasm may expand throughout the body and causes muscle tears. Normal body temperature rises to up to 2 to 4 centigrade, the body starts sweating. And blood pressure rises that sometimes causes heart failure.

To avoid these kinds of disorders, treatment of any minor or major injury, wound and cuts in order to evade from tetanus-causing bacteria to infect. The wounds or cuts must be thoroughly cleaned. Wash it with soap and water, and for a couple of minutes pat it dry. If the wound is deep, a doctor might be needed to give anti-tetanus injections. For little babies, they must be vaccinated. Tetanus vaccines are always available. Booster vaccines for babies and children should be administered every after 10-year. If in case you forget when the last time of vaccination was, tetanus booster DTaP vaccines should be administered as prescribed.

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