 |
View source |
 |
|
|
# Tetanus (lockjaw) |
|
|
|
## About tetanus |
|
|
|
Tetanus is a deadly infection that gets into a wound or the umbilical |
|
cord, and then spreads throughout the body. |
|
|
 |
Tetanus |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
* 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 |
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
* 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. |
|
|
|
Puncture wounds |
|
Broken bones |
|
Piercings |
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
 |
deep wounds |
|
tetanus meds |
|
|
|
## Newborn tetanus |
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
tetanus meds |
|
|
|
> from NEW WHERE THERE IS NO DOCTOR © Hesperian Health Guides, |
|
> 1919 Addison St Ste 304, Berkeley, CA, 94704, 1.510.845.1447, |
|
> [email protected] |
|
