Tetanus

Tetanus is a fatal infection which is caused by a type of bacteria (Clostridium tetani) that affects nervous system, leading to painful muscle contractions, particularly of the jaw and neck muscles. Around a million cases of tetanus occur worldwide each year. The infection is rare in the developed countries but occurs more often in the less developed countries. Tetanus can interfere with  a person’s ability to breathe  and can ultimately cause death. It is commonly known as "lockjaw".

The tetanus bacteria often enter the body through a puncture wound which can be caused by nails, splinters, insect bites, burns, injection-drug sites, or any skin break. The disease is incurable but can be easily prevented by giving vaccination. Fatality is highest in individuals who have not been immunized and in older adults with inadequate immunization. Thus, it is highly recommended that all children and adults should be immunized against tetanus.

Signs and symptoms of tetanus may appear anytime from a few days to several weeks after tetanus bacteria enter your body through a wound. The incubation period (the time between exposure to the bacteria and the illness) is between 3 to 21 days, but symptoms typically appear within 14 days of initial infection. Infections that occur faster after exposure are typically more severe and have a worse outcome (prognosis).

Common signs and symptoms of tetanus, in order of appearance, are:

   1. Spasms and stiffness in the jaw muscles.

   2. Stiffness of the neck muscles

   3. Difficulty in swallowing

   4. Stiffness of abdominal muscles

   5. Painful body spasms lasting for several minutes which are typically triggered by minor occurrences, such as a draft, loud noise, physical touch or light.

   6. Fever

   7. Sweating

   8. Elevated blood pressure

   9. Rapid heart rate

Tetanus is caused when the Clostridium tetani bacteria, enters the body through any deep wound or skin injury, spread throughout the body and produce a toxin called tetanospasmin. This toxin is a poison that blocks the nerve signals from your spinal cord to your muscles. This can lead to severe muscle spasms. These bacteria are mostly found in soil, dust and animal feces. This infection has been associated with:

•  Burns
•  Puncture wounds from piercings, tattoos, or injection drug use
•  Animal bites
•  Wounds contaminated with dirt, feces, or saliva
•  Dental infections
•  Insect bites
•  Chronic sores and infections

If your wound is small and clean but you're concerned about infection or whether you're immune from tetanus, start by seeing your family doctor to receive a diagnosis. If your wound is severe or you're experiencing symptoms of tetanus infection (or your infant is), seek emergency care and if possible, let your doctor know the following information:

• When, where and how you received the injury (or any recent injury, if a wound isn't obvious).
• Your immunization status, including when you received your last tetanus booster shot (a record of vaccines you've received and when) would be helpful.
• How you've been caring for the wound? 
• Any chronic illness or pre-existing condition you may have, such as diabetes, heart disease or pregnancy.
• If seeking care for an infant other than your own, let the doctor know the mother's country of origin, her immune status.

For tetanus, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What is the best course of action?
• What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
• I have other health conditions. How can I manage them together?
• Do I need to see a specialist?
• Are there restrictions I need to follow?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me?

If a wound is obvious, your doctor will inspect it by a physical examination. He or she will inquire you about your symptoms, severity of the symptoms, your immunization status, and how you have received the wound. Laboratory tests generally are not helpful for diagnosing tetanus.

Since tetanus is incurable the main focus of the treatment is on managing symptoms and preventing complications. The choice of treatment will depend on the severity of your symptoms. Tetanus is typically treated with a variety of therapies and medications, such as:

• Cleaning the wound to get rid of the source of the bacteria. In some cases, a surgical procedure called debridement is used to remove dead or infected tissue.
• Antibiotics like penicillin to kill the bacteria inside your body.
• Administration of vaccine, Tetanus immune globulin (TIG) to neutralize the toxins that the bacteria have created in your body.
• Muscle relaxers to control muscle spasms.

Vaccination can prevent tetanus infections, but only if you receive your booster shots on schedule. Immunization can also help preventing the effects of the toxin.

The primary vaccine series of tetanus vaccine usually is given to children as a part of the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine.

This vaccination provides protection against three diseases:

• a throat and respiratory infection (diphtheria),
• whooping cough (pertussis),
• tetanus.

For tetanus, children today are normally vaccinated at 2, 4, and 6 months, then again at 18 months and once more around age 4 to 6. If you were never vaccinated against tetanus as a child, see your doctor about getting the Tdap vaccine.

The tetanus vaccine or tetanus shot is a vaccine that provides protection from tetanus. It is one of the vaccines that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends for all babies, kids, teenagers, and adults.

It is injected into the muscle by certified doctors or healthcare professionals only.

The tetanus vaccine is available in combination with vaccines for other medical conditions including diphtheria and pertussis.

The available tetanus vaccines are:

• Diphtheria and tetanus (DT)
• Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP)
• Tetanus and diphtheria (Td)
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines

The tetanus shot is also called tetanus toxoid which contains heat-treated or chemically inactivated bacterial toxin. The inactivated toxin (toxoid) is unable to cause the disease. However, it can generate an immune response.

How does the tetanus vaccine work?

After you receive an exogenously administered toxoid, your immune cells start producing antibodies against it. Therefore, when you are exposed to the same toxin in the future, the available antibodies act against it.

What is the difference between the anti-tetanus serum (ATS) and tetanus toxoid (TT)?

Anti-tetanus serum and tetanus toxoid are not the same. They have different conditions for use.

ATS, also called Tetanus Anti-toxin (TAT), is reserved for use in severe cases where the wound is very large and dirty. It is prepared from the blood of the horse that is repeatedly administered high amounts of the tetanus toxin to induce high levels of circulating antibodies.

ATS is injected into the muscle or skin within the first six hours after the injury. It should not be given during pregnancy.

On the other hand, Tetanus toxoid provides an active immunity against the tetanus toxin and may be used for routine injuries. It is safe for use during pregnancy and is injected into the muscle within the first 24 hours after the injury.

ATS contains the serum that is rich in antibodies against the tetanus toxin, whereas TT is a non-virulent fraction of the toxin that is administered to the patient to elicit an immune response.

The severity of tetanus shot side effects can range from fever and swelling at the injection site to serious neurological illnesses.

The minor side effects that occur at or around the injection site include:

• Pain
• Inflammation of the tissues
• Redness
• Feeling of warmth
• Swelling of glands
• Itchy skin

In addition, some individuals may also have one or more of the following side effects:

• Feeling of illness
• Pain in the muscles or joint
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Headache
• Weakness
• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach

In very rare instances, individuals receiving the tetanus shot can have Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Researchers are not sure if there is a link between GBS and the tetanus vaccine. Even if any link could be established, they believe such link will not have significant impact on public health. Therefore, the potential risk for GBS should not stop you from getting vaccinated.

Most of the tetanus shot side effects are self-limiting and tend to go away without any treatment. You may take OTC painkiller to mitigate headache, and joint and muscle pain. Acetaminophen can provide relief from fever.

If any of the side effects persist, worsen, or new symptoms develop after vaccination, talk to your doctor right away. Some serious side effects that need immediate medical attention include seizures, difficulty swallowing, and tingling sensations in the limbs.

Tetanus Shot Reactions

The tetanus shot may cause skin reactions like redness and itching. These are minor problems and you can manage them by conventional measures.

Allergic reactions due to the tetanus shot are very rare. Nevertheless, allergies are very serious in nature and you should seek emergency medical help if you develop any of the following symptoms:

● Skin rashes or welts
● Swollen face, tongue or throat
● Unusual dizziness
● Breathing difficulties

Tetanus vaccine for children

DTaP vaccine protects your child from 3 different diseases (including tetanus) with a single shot: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

You should vaccinate your child with 5 doses of DTaP vaccine, one dose at each of the following ages:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 15-18 months
• 4-6 years

Tetanus vaccine following certain injuries

Injuries that cause a puncture in the skin can harbor the bacteria that causes tetanus. Open injuries can provide a medium for entry of the tetanus bacteria into the body.

When you sustain any injury that is likely to expose you to the bacteria, you should take the emergency tetanus booster dose after consulting with your doctor. Some examples of such injuries include deep dirty wounds, animal bites, lacerations, and needle or burn injuries.

Usual tetanus vaccination

In a normal condition, you should get the tetanus booster every 10 years even in the absence of any injury.

The need for the booster dose arises because the first exposure to the bacteria does not provide natural immunity against tetanus.

Tetanus vaccine during pregnancy

There have been numerous headlines regarding the potential health risks due to vaccination during pregnancy. However, the tetanus toxoid is considered safe for use during pregnancy. According to the revised vaccination guidelines in 2013, pregnant women can be given diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine at any time of pregnancy. (Note that the preferred time to administer the shot is after the second trimester).

If a pregnant woman is suspected to have acquired the tetanus bacteria through an injury, the doctor can prescribe Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine to protect the mother and unborn child from the harmful effects of tetanus and diphtheria.

Tetanus shot while breastfeeding

The tetanus shot is safe for use if you are nursing a baby. However, you should consult your doctor immediately if you have any concerns.

A tetanus shot is good for a maximum of 10 years. However, if you sustain a very deep or dirty injury and have not had a tetanus booster for the last 5 years, you should get one immediately.

It’s not clear if its effect lasts for more than a decade after the last dose.

Therefore, if you get a deep injury with potential exposure to the virus and you are not sure when you had the last booster dose, you should get a new booster dose.

Drugs that weaken your immune system may cause drug interactions with the tetanus booster. Therefore, you need to inform your doctor if you are taking drugs such as corticosteroids and anti-tumor agents.

There have been reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome in patients who are vaccinated with the tetanus shot. Therefore, consult your doctor if you have a personal or family history of Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Talk to your doctor if you:

• Have known hypersensitivity to toxoid, neomycin, streptomycin or polymyxin B.
• Are currently undergoing treatment for some infection.

It can also alter blood-clotting mechanisms in some individuals. Therefore, patients who have abnormal clotting cell counts should exercise extra caution.

Tetanus is fatal, so you must adapt your lifestyle appropriately if you think you are suffering from it.

Untreated wounds or other deep cuts, and animal bites, particularly dirty wounds may put you at increased risk of tetanus infection. Get medication if the wound is deep and dirty, especially if you are not sure of your immune status. Always keep your wound covered with a bandage to avoid trapping of bacteria in your wound. Your doctor may need to clean the wound, prescribe an antibiotic and give you a booster shot of the tetanus toxoid vaccine.

If you've previously been immunized, your body should quickly make the needed antibodies, to protect you against tetanus.

If you have a minor wound, these steps will help prevent you from getting tetanus: 

1. Control bleeding if the wound is bleeding. Apply direct pressure to control the bleeding.
2. After the bleeding has stopped, rinse the wound thoroughly with clean running water (or saline solution if available).
3. Keep the wound clean.
4. Clean the area around the wound with soap and a washcloth.
5. If debris is embedded in a wound, see your doctor.
6. After you clean the wound, apply a thin layer of an antibiotic cream or ointment, such as the multi-ingredient antibiotics Neosporin and Polysporin. These antibiotics won't make the wound heal faster, but they can discourage bacterial growth and infection and may allow the wound to heal more efficiently. 
7. Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people. If a rash appears, stop using the ointment. 
8. Cover the wound. Exposure to the air may speed healing, but bandages can help keep the wound clean and keep harmful bacteria out. Blisters that are draining are vulnerable. Keep them covered until scab forms. 
9. Apply a new dressing at least once a day or whenever the dressing becomes wet or dirty to help prevent infection. 
10. If you're allergic to the adhesive used in most bandages, switch to adhesive-free dressings or sterile gauze and paper tape.

There are several risks and complications associated with tetanus.

Without treatment tetanus can be fatal so, you must see the doctor as soon as possible. Certain factors are necessary for tetanus bacteria to proliferate in your body and thus, they increase your likelihood of getting tetanus. These factors may include:

• Failure to get vaccinated or to keep up to date with booster shots against tetanus.
• An injury that lets tetanus spores enter the wound.

Tetanus cases have developed from the following:

1. Puncture wounds from splinters, body piercings, tattoos, injection drugs.
2. Gunshot wounds
3. Compound fractures
4. Burns
5. Surgical wounds
6. Injection drug use
7. Animal or insect bites
8. Infected foot ulcers
9. Dental infections
10. Infected umbilical stumps in newborns born of inadequately immunised mothers.

Tetanus results in some severe complications as described below:

1. In infants, tetanus infections may cause lasting brain damage, ranging from minor mental deficits to cerebral palsy. 
2. Severe tetanus-induced (tetanic) muscle spasms which can interfere with breathing, causing periods in which you cannot breathe at all. Respiratory failure is the most common cause of death. 
3. Lack of oxygen may also induce cardiac arrest and death.
4. Pneumonia is another cause of death.
5. Broken bones 
6. Blockage of a lung artery (pulmonary embolism)

Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is a very serious bacterial infection that causes muscle spasm and rigidity. The symptoms of tetanus occur due to toxic substances produced by rod-shaped Gram +ve bacteria Clostridium tetani.

The common signs of tetanus are difficulty chewing (hence the name lockjaw), breathing problems, chest tightness, and stiff neck. Patients may also report fever, headache, blood in stool, and fast heartbeats.

Failure to receive prompt treatment increases the mortality rate. Life-threatening complications may arise from tetanus. They include suffocation, heart attack, septicemia (blood poisoning), seizures and kidney failure.

Treatments for tetanus include injection of tetanus immunoglobulin, antibiotics such as Penicillin, metronidazole or tetracycline. Other supportive treatments include administration of muscle relaxants like diazepam or baclofen.

Your doctor may recommend surgery if you have sustained large injuries with extensive tissue damage. The surgery removes dead tissues and foreign particles from the site of the injury. This type of surgery is called debridement.