What is tetanus: symptoms and treatment?

What is tetanus? This is an acute infectious disease. It develops as a result of getting a tetanus toxin from the outside. Exotoxin affects the nervous system, which causes the formation of tonic spasms 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 causative agent is spread all over the Earth. Most often it occurs where there is a humid and hot climate. From the causative agent of tetanus vaccination is carried out in all countries of the world. Entrance gates for getting the infection into the body are burns, wounds, domestic injuries (abrasions, punctures). From people who are stricken with tetanus, the pathogen is not transmitted. If the bacterium enters the body with food, the disease does not arise.

Exotoxin, after being absorbed into the body, spreads through the blood, lymph and nerve fibers and is strongly retained in the nervous tissue. The prevalence and depth of damage depends on the course of the disease and its prognosis.

Symptoms of tetanus

The incubation period lasts for an average of two weeks, sometimes up to one month. The first symptoms of the disease appear after the healing of the infected wound. The less the incubation period lasts, the more severe the course of the disease. The tetanus clinic always begins suddenly and sharply, against a background of well-being, sometimes it is preceded by general weakness, poor sleep and appetite. What is tetanus? The first sign of the disease is the trisus (tension) of the muscles of the chewing 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 convulsions there is a tension in the intercostal muscles and diaphragm, which leads to a violation of breathing and contributes to the onset of hypoxia of the brain. The patient marks intolerable muscle pain throughout the body. Touching the body, any sound or light contributes to the appearance of tonic seizures, which can last from a few seconds to a minute. During convulsions, there is a fever, sweating, excessive salivation, rapid heartbeat and oxygen starvation of all cells and tissues. What is tetanus? The patient has difficulty with urination and defecation. It is characteristic that the patient is constantly in a clear consciousness. Tetanus (photo can be seen below) is characterized by a classic opisthotonus with the appearance of seizures.

The disease is classified by severity as follows:

1. The mild form of tetanus. It is rare and only in those who have partial immunity. Seizures, if they arise, then only a few attacks during the day. Body temperature up to 38,5 ⁰ С. The disease lasts up to two weeks.
2. Medium-heavy form. It manifests itself with typical symptoms and high fever. The frequency of seizures - one or two times for an hour with a duration of up to 30 seconds. There are no complications as such. The period of the disease is up to three weeks.
3. Heavy form. Symptoms of the disease are pronounced. Seizures - every 6-30 minutes with a duration of up to 3 minutes. Add fluctuations in blood pressure. As a rule, this form of tetanus causes pneumonia. Duration of the disease - up to three weeks.

What is tetanus? A disease in which death occurs when the brain stem is damaged and cardiovascular and respiratory activity is stopped.

Treatment

The patient must be hospitalized in the intensive care unit in a separate ward. During treatment, a high-calorie diet is recommended. Introduce tetanus antitetanus or tetanus immunoglobulin, antibiotic therapy is used from a group of penicillins or fluoroquinolones, anticonvulsant therapy, muscle relaxants with a transfer to artificial ventilation.

Prevention

According to the vaccination schedule, there is a three-time vaccination of children with an interval of five years. Apply tetanus toxoid or DTP vaccine.