It is vital that tetanus is diagnosed as early as possible because it can be fatal if left untreated. Therefore, a confident diagnosis can usually be made if someone has recently had a dirty wound and has painful muscle spasms and stiffness.
Signs and symptoms of tetanus appear anytime from a few days to several weeks after the bacteria has entered the body through the open wound. The average incubation period is seven to 10 days.
Common signs and symptoms of tetanus include;
Spasms and stiffness in the jaw muscles
Stiffness of the neck muscles
Difficulty swallowing
Stiffness of the abdominal muscles
Painful body spasms lasting for several minutes, typically triggered by minor occurrences, such as a draft, loud noise, physical touch or light.
Possible other signs and symptoms include:
Fever
Sweating
Elevated blood pressure
Rapid heart rate
Tetanus cases have developed from the following:
Spasms and stiffness in the jaw muscles
Stiffness of the neck muscles
Difficulty swallowing
Stiffness of the abdominal muscles
Painful body spasms lasting for several minutes, typically triggered by minor occurrences, such as a draft, loud noise, physical touch or light.
Possible other signs and symptoms include:
Fever
Sweating
Elevated blood pressure
Rapid heart rate
Tetanus cases have developed from the following:
Puncture wounds — including from splinters, body piercings, tattoos, injection drugs
Gunshot wounds
Compound fractures
Burns
Surgical wounds
Injection drug use
Animal or insect bites
Infected foot ulcers
Dental infections
Infected umbilical stumps in newborns born of inadequately immunized mothers
Gunshot wounds
Compound fractures
Burns
Surgical wounds
Injection drug use
Animal or insect bites
Infected foot ulcers
Dental infections
Infected umbilical stumps in newborns born of inadequately immunized mothers
Tetanus can be diagnose based on a physical exam, medical and immunization history, and the signs and symptoms of muscle spasms, stiffness and pain.
Laboratory tests generally aren't helpful for diagnosing tetanus and since there's no cure for it yet, treatment consists of wound care, medications to ease symptoms and supportive care. Cleaning the wound is essential to preventing growth of tetanus spores. This involves removing dirt, foreign objects and dead tissue from the wound.
Puncture wounds or other deep cuts, animal bites, or particularly dirty wounds put you at increased risk of tetanus infection. Get medical attention if the wound is deep and dirty, and particularly if you are unsure of when you were last vaccinated. Leave unclean wounds open to avoid trapping bacteria in the wound with a bandage.
Your doctor may need to clean the wound, prescribe an antibiotic and give you a booster shot of the tetanus toxoid vaccine.
If you've previously been immunized, your body should quickly make the needed antibodies to protect you against tetanus.
If you have a minor wound, these steps will help prevent tetanus:
Control bleeding: Apply direct pressure to control bleeding.
Keep the wound clean: After the bleeding stops, rinse the wound thoroughly with clean running water. Clean the area around the wound with soap and a washcloth. If something is embedded in the wound, see your doctor.
Use an antibiotic: After you clean the wound, apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment, such as the multi-ingredient antibiotics Neosporin and Polysporin. These antibiotics won't make the wound heal faster, but they can discourage bacterial growth and infection. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the ointment.
Cover the wound: Exposure to the air might speed healing, but bandages can keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria out. Blisters that are draining are vulnerable. Keep them covered until a scab forms.
Change the dressing: Apply a new dressing at least once a day or whenever the dressing becomes wet or dirty to help prevent infection. If you're allergic to the adhesive used in most bandages, switch to adhesive-free dressings or sterile gauze and paper tape.
There is no cure for tetanus. Therefore treatment focuses on managing complications until the effects of the tetanus toxin are resolved.
Never hide a wound from your doctor; whether a minor or major one.
By Mercy Kukah
Laboratory tests generally aren't helpful for diagnosing tetanus and since there's no cure for it yet, treatment consists of wound care, medications to ease symptoms and supportive care. Cleaning the wound is essential to preventing growth of tetanus spores. This involves removing dirt, foreign objects and dead tissue from the wound.
Puncture wounds or other deep cuts, animal bites, or particularly dirty wounds put you at increased risk of tetanus infection. Get medical attention if the wound is deep and dirty, and particularly if you are unsure of when you were last vaccinated. Leave unclean wounds open to avoid trapping bacteria in the wound with a bandage.
Your doctor may need to clean the wound, prescribe an antibiotic and give you a booster shot of the tetanus toxoid vaccine.
If you have a minor wound, these steps will help prevent tetanus:
Control bleeding: Apply direct pressure to control bleeding.
Keep the wound clean: After the bleeding stops, rinse the wound thoroughly with clean running water. Clean the area around the wound with soap and a washcloth. If something is embedded in the wound, see your doctor.
Use an antibiotic: After you clean the wound, apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment, such as the multi-ingredient antibiotics Neosporin and Polysporin. These antibiotics won't make the wound heal faster, but they can discourage bacterial growth and infection. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the ointment.
Cover the wound: Exposure to the air might speed healing, but bandages can keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria out. Blisters that are draining are vulnerable. Keep them covered until a scab forms.
Change the dressing: Apply a new dressing at least once a day or whenever the dressing becomes wet or dirty to help prevent infection. If you're allergic to the adhesive used in most bandages, switch to adhesive-free dressings or sterile gauze and paper tape.
Never hide a wound from your doctor; whether a minor or major one.
By Mercy Kukah
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