Don’t Get Locked into Tetanus/Lockjaw!

What is tetanus?

 

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is an infection caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. Illness results from a potent neurotoxin that is made during the growth of this bacterium in dead tissues. Tetanus is not transmitted from person to person, but can enter the body through many other commonplace means.

How could I be exposed?

The tetanus bacterium, found in dust, soil, and manure, is pervasive in any environment and is therefore almost unavoidable. The most likely points of exposure are as follow:

• Wounds contaminated by dirt, feces, or saliva
• Wounds caused by an unclean object (such as a nail, knife, splinter, or needle) puncturing the skin
• Animal bites
• Burns
• Crush injuries

Dirt can enter the wound in any of these situations, and tetanus is the last thing you want to worry about in addition to an injury.

What are the symptoms?   

The most common initial symptom of tetanus is spasms of the jaw muscles, or “lockjaw.” Those affected by the bacteria also experience jaw cramping, sudden involuntary muscle tightening, painful muscle stiffness throughout the body, difficulty swallowing, spasms of the vocal cords, seizures, fever, headaches, high blood pressure, and increased heart rate.

In addition, these symptoms can lead to other more serious conditions. Muscle spasms and seizures may cause bone fractures. In addition, some patients experience a pulmonary embolism, in which a blood clot becomes dislodged from another part of the body and travels to the lungs, resulting in a blockage. Finally, in 10-20% of cases, breathing difficulties result in fatality.

What can I do?      

If you think you may have contracted the tetanus bacterium, you must receive treatment for the symptoms as well as become vaccinated. The average incubation period of the bacteria is about ten days, and the disease is likely to show itself within two weeks of bacterial exposure. It’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

In terms of general protection, immediate and thorough wound care should always be practiced. But, because tetanus can be found nearly everywhere, the best way to be proactive is to receive the vaccine before these bacteria affect you negatively.

I’ve heard there are various forms of vaccination…     

The tetanus vaccine is given as an injection into the shoulder muscle. However, the vaccine administered in children and adults differs slightly.

For children, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends five doses of the diphtheria & tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine. One dose of DTaP should be given at the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years. DTaP is a part of regular immunization schedules and may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

However, children who have serious illnesses or suffer negative reactions to DTaP should not receive the vaccine. Parents should consult a pediatrician in the latter case, as some of these children should not get another dose of the pertussis vaccine, but may have a DT shot without the pertussis component. DTaP should not be given to anyone above 7 years of age.

Older children and adults also need protection from tetanus. If you have not received a booster shot in over 10 years, consult a travel clinic to receive the Tdap vaccine, a tetanus booster that also provides protection against pertussis. Expectant mothers should also receive Tdap during the third semester. If you were never vaccinated as a child, you should receive a series of three tetanus shots as soon as possible.