!Tetanus (lockjaw)
About tetanus
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Tetanus is a deadly infection that gets into a wound or the umbilical
cord, and then spreads throughout the body.
Signs of tetanus most often appear 7 to 10 days after an injury. But
signs can also start as soon as 3 days after being infected or not
appear until 2 or 3 weeks later.
Signs
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* Tense and painful contractions of all the muscles.
* During contractions, breathing may stop.
* Extreme muscle spasms that come and go.
* Lockjaw (cannot open the mouth easily).
* Stiff neck and a stiff, board-hard belly.
Get medical help fast for these signs!
Prevention
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Tetanus is much easier to prevent than to treat. Prevent by vaccinating
all children against tetanus and carefully cleaning wounds so they do
not get infected. Children need 3 doses of the tetanus vaccine as
infants and then 3 booster vaccines later. Pregnant women need a
tetanus vaccination unless they have had one recently.
Wounds most likely to develop tetanus
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* Puncture wounds.
* Gunshot wounds.
* Broken bones, when the bone pokes through the skin (open fractures).
* Severe burns or frostbite.
* Unsafe abortions and injections or piercings with used needles can
also lead to tetanus.
Serious, deep or dirty wounds need special cleaning, care, and
antibiotics. Unless the person had a tetanus vaccine within the past 5
years, they need one now and also an injection of antitetanus
immunoglobulin.
Newborn tetanus
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Newborns can get infected with tetanus through the umbilical cord if
the mother does not have up-to-date tetanus vaccinations. Cutting the
cord with a sterile blade and keeping the cord clean protect babies
from tetanus at birth.
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from NEW WHERE THERE IS NO DOCTOR ©
Hesperian Health Guides 1919 Addison St Ste 304 Berkeley CA 94704
1.510.845.1447
[email protected]
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