Tetanus is an extremely dangerous infectious disease. If untreated, infection can lead to a host of complications, including even death by suffocation. That is why many are interested in questions about why tetanus occurs, what it is and how infection occurs. After all, with timely assistance, such problems can be avoided.
Tetanus: what is it and what are its causes?
The causative agent of the disease is tetanus bacillus, a microscopic bacterium that lives in the gastrointestinal tract of herbivores. Together with fecal masses from the intestines of sick animals, a huge amount of spores is released, which is extremely resistant to the effects of the external environment - they can maintain the ability to live for years.
The pathogen enters the human body through wounds, scratches and other injuries on the skin. In some regions, tetanus is called “bare foot disease,” since even a splinter in the foot or a scratch from a spine of a plant can become a gateway to infection.
Tetanus: what are these and what are its symptoms?
The incubation period can last from 1 to 30 days, depending on the characteristics of the human body. It is immediately worth noting that this is an extremely dangerous disease - tetanus affects the central nervous system, disrupting the innervation of muscles. The first signs of the disease include increased irritability, headaches and sweating. After that, spasms of certain muscle groups begin.
As a rule, spasms of the masticatory muscles first appear , in which the jaws of a person are so tight that it is difficult for him to open his mouth. In the future, there is a spasm of muscle muscle, which is accompanied by the appearance of the so-called "sardonic smile." In addition, the patient experiences problems with swallowing, since the muscle fibers of the pharynx are also strained.
As the disease progresses, cramps cover more muscle groups, including limbs and back. Sometimes the muscles of the back are so tense that the vertebrates are arched. If untreated, the spasm extends to the intercostal muscles, which provide respiratory movements of the chest - in such cases, death from respiratory failure is not excluded.
Tetanus: what is it and why is it dangerous?
The disease can lead to a lot of complications. In the early stages, the development of sepsis, pneumonia and bronchitis is possible. In some patients, the seizures are so strong that they lead to rupture of ligaments and muscles, dislocations and bone fractures. Complications of the disease include myocardial infarction and myocardial paralysis.
Even after treatment, patients are often tormented by curvature of the spine, constant muscle weakness, stiffness of the joints and the consequences of damage to certain nerves.
Tetanus in humans and methods of treatment
First of all, it is necessary to cleanse the human body of toxins released into the blood by the pathogen. To this end, he is administered tetanus tetanus serum and immunomodulating therapy is performed. Muscle relaxants and sedatives are used, which eliminate muscle spasm and alleviate the patient's condition. Patients with respiratory failure are temporarily connected to an artificial respiration apparatus.
It is worth noting that modern medicine offers a very effective preventive measure - a tetanus vaccine.