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TED-Ed・3 minutes read
Tetanus, caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria, enters the body through cuts and can lead to severe muscle contractions and spasms. Treatment involves wound cleaning, antibiotics, antitoxin administration, and supportive care to prevent fatal muscle spasms, with prevention crucial through vaccination, especially in regions with limited access to vaccines like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Insights
- Hippocrates encountered a shipmaster with tetanus, one of the earliest recorded cases, highlighting the historical impact of this disease and its symptoms like muscle spasms and lockjaw.
- Tetanus, caused by bacteria entering the body through wounds, can be fatal due to muscle spasms in critical areas like the windpipe and chest, underscoring the necessity of tetanus vaccines and proper wound care to prevent this deadly infection, particularly in regions with limited vaccine access.
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Recent questions
What is tetanus?
Tetanus is a bacterial infection caused by Clostridium tetani that enters the body through cuts and abrasions, leading to severe muscle contractions and spasms.
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Summary
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Tetanus: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
- Greek physician Hippocrates, in the 5th century, encountered a shipmaster suffering from tetanus, one of the first recorded cases. Tetanus, caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria, enters the body through cuts and abrasions, not person-to-person contact, and can lead to severe muscle contractions and spasms.
- Symptoms of tetanus include general aches, lockjaw, and muscle rigidity, progressing to potentially fatal muscle spasms in the windpipe and chest. Treatment involves wound cleaning, antibiotics, antitoxin administration, and supportive care like muscle relaxants and ventilators to prevent suffocation.
- Prevention through tetanus vaccines, starting in early childhood and including boosters, is crucial. Despite vaccine availability, over 20,000 infants die annually from tetanus, emphasizing the importance of vaccination, especially in regions with limited access to vaccines like South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
