View source for Tetanus

Tetanus is a non-contagious [[Disease|disease]] that is caused by [[Gram-positive|gram-positive]] [[Bacteria|bacteria]] called ''[[Clostridium tetani|Clostridium tetani]]<ref>https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Tetanus/</ref><ref>https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/causes-transmission.html</ref>, ''which spores can normally be found in soil and animal manure (e.g. cows). The spores enter the body through breaks in the skin such as puncture wounds and develop into [[Bacteria|bacteria]], releasing a neurotoxin called tetanospasmin<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3564069/</ref>. This [[Toxin|toxin]] disturbs the regulation at [[Neuromuscular junction|neuromuscular junction]] that then leads to continuous [[Muscle contraction|muscle contraction]]<ref>https://www.medicinenet.com/tetanus/article.htm</ref>. Once the [[Bacteria|bacteria]] are inside the body, they multiply quickly and produces more spores that will eventually leads to more [[Toxin|toxin]] being released. In general, deep wounds are more prone to the [[Infection|infection]] due to the [[Anaerobic|anaerobic]] nature of the [[Bacteria|bacteria]]<ref>https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/tetanus</ref>. 

There are 4 types of tetanus<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3564069/</ref><ref>https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/clinicians.html</ref>: 

#Generalized 
#Neonatal 
#Localized – spasms occur in a confined area close to the site of the injury 
#Cephalic – lesions of the head/face

Both generalized and neonatal tetanus affect muscles of the whole body and may result in death caused by [[Respiratory failure|respiratory failure]]. 

=== Symptoms  ===

The incubation period of [[Clostridium tetani|''C. tetani'']] is 4-21 days after the [[Infection|infection]], although it takes 10 days on average. Some of the initial symptoms are stiffness in jaw muscles (which is why it is referred as ‘lockjaw’), painful muscle spasms that may lead to difficulty in breathing, swallowing, and results in high fever. Complications from the [[Disease|disease]] normally depends on the location of the spasms<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3564069/</ref><ref>https://www.medicinenet.com/tetanus/article.htm</ref>. Some of the complications are laryngospasms (brief spasm of the vocal cords) and fractures. If not treated, the symptoms can progress to severe muscle spasms and [[Nervous system|nervous system]] disorders<ref>https://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/tetanus</ref> and may eventually lead to death<ref>https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/clinicians.html</ref>. 

=== Treatment and Prevention  ===

#Injection of Tetanus [[Immunoglobulin|Immunoglobulin]] (TIG) – contains [[Antibodies|antibodies]] that kill [[Clostridium tetani|C. tetani]] as well as removing any unbound [[Toxin|toxin]] in the bloodstream<ref>https://www.medicinenet.com/tetanus/article.htm</ref>. 
#Tetanus [[Vaccine|Vaccine]] – Recommended to be taken every 10 years<ref>https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3564069/</ref>. 
#[[Antibiotic|Antibiotics]]

=== References  ===

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