What is tetanus? This is an acute infectious disease. It develops as a result of ingestion of tetanus bacillus toxin from the outside . Exotoxin affects the nervous system, which causes the occurrence of tonic convulsions of the muscular system.
In the external environment, the pathogen is in the form of spores that are resistant to physical and chemical factors, disinfectants.
This pathogen is common throughout the Earth. Most often it is found where there is a humid and hot climate. Vaccination against tetanus is carried out in all countries of the world. Entrance gates for infection in the body are burn surfaces, wounds, household injuries (abrasions, punctures). From people who are affected by tetanus, the pathogen is not transmitted. If the bacterium enters the body with food, then the disease does not occur.
When exotoxin enters the body, it spreads through the blood, lymph and nerve fibers and is firmly retained in the nervous tissue. The course of the disease and its prognosis depend on the prevalence and depth of damage.
Signs of tetanusThe incubation period lasts on average two weeks, sometimes up to one month. The first symptoms of the disease appear after the healing of an infected wound. The shorter the incubation period, the harder the course of the disease. The tetanus clinic always begins suddenly and acutely, against the background of good health, sometimes this is preceded by general weakness, poor sleep and appetite. What is tetanus? The first sign of the disease is the trismus (tension) of the muscles of the masticatory apparatus with difficulty opening the mouth. Due to the trism of the masticatory muscles, it is impossible to swallow saliva, food and water (dysphagia), as the muscles of the pharynx contract.
Subsequently, stiff neck muscles are added , throwing the head back. Against the background of seizures, tension arises in the intercostal muscles and diaphragm, which leads to respiratory failure and contributes to the occurrence of cerebral hypoxia. The patient notes unbearable muscle pain throughout the body. Touching the body, any sound or light contribute to the appearance of tonic convulsions, which can last from a few seconds to a minute. During seizures, there is an increase in temperature, sweating, excessive salivation, heart palpitations and oxygen starvation of all cells and tissues. What is tetanus? The patient has difficulty urinating and defecating. It is characteristic that the patient is constantly in clear consciousness. Tetanus (photo can be seen below) is characterized by a classic opisthotonus with seizures.
The disease is classified according to severity as follows:
- Lightweight tetanus. It is rare and only in those who have partial immunity. Convulsions, if they occur, are only a few attacks during the day. Body temperature is up to 38.5 0 . The disease lasts up to two weeks.
- Moderate form. It manifests itself with typical symptoms and high fever. The frequency of seizures is one to two times per hour with a duration of up to 30 seconds. There are no complications as such. The illness period is up to three weeks.
- Severe form. Symptoms of the disease are pronounced. Cramps - every 6-30 minutes with a duration of up to 3 minutes. Blood pressure fluctuations are added. Typically, with this form of tetanus, pneumonia occurs. The duration of the disease is up to three weeks.
What is tetanus? A disease in which death occurs against a background of damage to the brain stem with cardiovascular and respiratory arrest.
Treatment
The patient must be hospitalized in the intensive care unit in a separate ward. During treatment, a high-calorie diet is recommended. Anti-tetanus serum or anti-tetanus immunoglobulin is administered, antibiotic therapy from the group of penicillins or fluoroquinolones, anticonvulsant therapy, muscle relaxants with transfer to artificial lung ventilation are used.
Prevention
According to the vaccination calendar, children are vaccinated three times a day with an interval of five years. A tetanus toxoid or DTP vaccine is used.