Booster dose of tetanus is necessary every 5 years.

Tetanus is such a deadly disease, which kills thousands every year, but till date no cure has been found for it. This disease attacks the nervous system. The jaws clench and clench so tightly as if someone has put a lock on the mouth, that is why tetanus is also called ‘lockjaw’.

The body stiffens and bends like a bow. For this reason, this disease is also called ‘Dhanustambha’ in Ayurveda. In this, the muscles of the body start shrinking, cramping, due to which even the bones of the body break. Heart and kidney fail.

The ‘seeds’ of tetanus spread everywhere, do not die even at high temperature

Tetanus infection is caused by a bacteria called ‘Clostridium tetani’. These bacteria cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. Its bacteria are present in dust, soil, cow dung and animal feces. Which is called a spore in medical language, that is, a spore, which acts like a seed of a plant. It can live for 40 to 60 years. In the absence of oxygen, it grows faster than bacteria.

When its infection reaches the injured part of the body or wound, then the bacteria goes inside the body from there. The bacteria of tetanus is so strong that it does not die even with antiseptic. Most of the medicines also do not affect him. Germs do not die even after boiling in water and freezing in ice. It also takes 15 to 20 minutes to kill the tetanus bacteria at high pressure and 121 degree temperature.

What is the relation between tetanus and rusted iron?

You must be thinking that tetanus is caused by getting hurt and cut by a rusty iron object. However, tetanus can also occur if an injury is caused by wood, plastic or any other material that has been exposed to dust and dirt for a long time.

And, it is said to avoid rusting of iron, because rusting makes iron rough. Due to which bacteria easily stick to it. Then when an injury is caused by such a rusty object, bacteria enter the wound.

Dr. Ravikant Porwal, Senior Consultant at Manipal Hospital, Jaipur, explains that tetanus infection occurs only when there is a cut of any kind on the skin and the bacteria reaches the tissue through that wound.

Deadly poison reaches the body

As soon as they enter the body, these bacteria release poisons named Tetanospasmin and Tetanolysin in the blood. These poisons attack muscles and neurons. Damage the tissues. Due to this, the system that keeps neurons and muscles active is completely shaken. Tissues become inactive or say that they are paralyzed. Muscles tear due to spasm and contraction.

This poison enters the central nervous system and blocks the neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are a kind of communication system of the body. It is his job to tell when, where, what to do. Health starts deteriorating 2 to 14 days after infection.

Once this poison of tetanus reaches the brain, there is no hope of survival. The body stops working. Starts sweating. Blood pressure fluctuates rapidly. Heart beat is sometimes slow, sometimes fast. Eventually, cardiac arrest causes the heart to suddenly stop working.

Why the body bends like a bow

Dr. Ravikant explains that the toxin of tetanus affects the muscles and neurons and the muscles of the body start stiffening. The body bends like a bow. This is called advanced or progressive tetanus.

As the infection progresses, its serious effects are visible

Suffocation: Tetanus infection causes shortness of breath, constriction of the throat and abdominal muscles. Difficulty in breathing and suffocation.

Blockage in the lungs: Blood clots reaching the lungs due to poison. Blockage of veins.

Pneumonia: Pneumonia due to infection in the lungs.

Fractures in bones: Tearing of contracting muscles. Fracture of the bones of the body.

Becoming conscious: Nervous system and difficulty in breathing. 2 out of 10 tetanus victims do not survive.

In 90% of cases the child dies

Dr Shaili, Gynecologist at Rosewalk Hospital, Delhi, explains that tetanus can also be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy. This is called maternal tetanus. Whereas, infection that occurs within 28 days of birth is called ‘neonatal tetanus’. According to WHO, in neonatal tetanus, babies can cry and breastfeed for 2 days after birth, but within 3 to 28 days, the baby’s muscles start to stiffen.

Negligence during delivery and umbilical cord cutting is dangerous for both mother and child. 90% of newborns die from tetanus caused by this.

Small children often put soil and things lying around in their mouths. If tetanus bacteria is present in these things and there is even a slight wound in the mouth of children, then this habit of theirs can make them a victim of tetanus.

Why is the tetanus vaccine important during pregnancy?

According to Dr. Shelly, the child cannot be given the vaccine as soon as it is born. At that time only the immunity received from the mother saves her. Therefore, the mother is given 2 doses of Tetanus Toxoid (TT) at the beginning of pregnancy. It also protects the baby through the umbilical cord. If tetanus vaccine has not been given within 3 years before pregnancy, then the third dose is also given.

Be sure to get tetanus vaccine even after dog-cat bite

It is necessary to get tetanus vaccine within 24 hours after an animal bite. Dr. Ravikant gives two reasons for this. First, when an animal bites, it is not known how much infection has occurred during that time. There may be bacteria in the dog’s mouth or by falling on the ground at that time the bacteria present in the soil can reach the wound.

The second reason is safety. People in India do not remember the vaccination history. They don’t know which vaccine has been given and when. Therefore, on the bite of an animal, they are given a booster dose of tetanus vaccine, so that they can avoid infection.

Only vaccine can save from tetanus, but necessary every 5 years

Dr. Ravikant says that usually once an infection occurs, immunity develops in that person against that infection. However, a person never gets immunity due to infection with tetanus bacteria. It can be avoided only by getting vaccinated. But, the effect of the vaccine also does not last long. That’s why its booster dose is given every 5 years.

There is no test to detect tetanus infection

According to the American Health Agency CDC, no test has been made so far to detect tetanus infection. Therefore, its infection cannot be detected by any kind of pathology test. In such a case, doctors decide whether tetanus has occurred on the basis of wound, patient’s history, physical examination and symptoms.

Disease appears in 3 to 21 days

According to the health journal PMC, symptoms of tetanus appear within 3 to 21 days after infection. The disease becomes severe within 2 weeks. If the patient already has a serious illness or the wound is very deep, then the bacteria rapidly dominate his body. But, there have also been cases where it took several months to recover from the infection.

How to save the lives of patients after having tetanus

Dr. Porwal explains that first of all control the patient’s breathing tube, because he cannot breathe due to muscle stiffness. If needed, he is put on ventilator. Medicines are given to neutralize the poison of tetanus. Then medicines are given to keep BP normal and to end muscle stiffness. Vaccine is also given to increase the immunity of the patient.

Even though tetanus has been controlled to a great extent by the vaccine, but this disease is still fatal. That’s why negligence can be heavy in case of injury. Avoidance is the best.