What is tetanus?

Tetanus is a severe bacterial infection caused by clostridium tetani which affect the nervous system. It is also known as lockjaw as this causes muscle contractions in the neck and jaw. This bacteria produces a toxin called tetanospasmin that causes painful contractions further leads to muscle spasms. It can ultimately spread to other parts of the body. It is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment and may be fatal and cause death if left untreated.

What are the symptoms of tetanus?

Following are few of the signs and symptoms of tetanus:

• Muscle spasms and stiffness in the jaw
• Stiffness of neck muscles
• Difficulty in breathing and swallowing
• Stiffness of abdominal muscles

Associated signs with the above symptoms:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Sensitivity to touch
• Blood stools
• Sore throat
• Sweating
• Rapid heartbeat
• High blood pressure
• Restlessness and irritability 

What is the cause of tetanus?

Tetanus is caused due to a Clostridium tetani bacterium. The spores of the bacteria commonly found in soil, dirt, animal manure. These spores can enter the body through wounds or cut and multiply rapidly releasing tetanospasmin. The toxin spreads into the bloodstream causing symptoms of tetanus

What are the complications of tetanus?

Tetanus can cause serious complications due to severe muscle spasms. Few of them are:

• Fractures
• Aspiration pneumonia
• Pulmonary embolism
• Laryngospasm
• Brain damage
• Tetanic seizures
• Kidney failure
• Abnormal palpitations
• Secondary infections 

How can tetanus be diagnosed?

Usually, doctors will perform a physical examination to check for the signs of tetanus. Sometimes, doctors suggest laboratory tests to find out the conditions with the same symptoms. Tetanus diagnosis is also based on the immunization history. However, early diagnosis helps to provide treatment and can minimize the symptoms effectively.

What are the steps to be taken to prevent tetanus?

Different types of wounds, cuts, or injuries have increased risk of tetanus infection. If an individual is having a minor wound, then one should follow the below measures to prevent tetanus.

• Apply pressure to control bleeding
• Keep the wound clean
• Use antibiotic creams
• Cover the wound properly
• Change dressing regularly
• Tetanus vaccine