can tetanus be cured

 Can tetanus be cured & how common is tetanus?

Tetanus bacteria 

Neurotoxin tetanospasmin, formed by clostridium tetani bacteria, causes tetanus. The vegetative bacteria give rise to tetanospasmin, a release of zinc metalloprotease. At spinal synapses of inhibitory neurons, tetanospasmin interferes with neurotransmitters. 

Lesser stimuli result in uncontrolled spasms and excessive reflexes. The incubation period is from 7 days to 14 weeks, the duration of which is 10-15 days. 

Tetanus symptoms 

Signs and symptoms of tetanus typically occur around 5-10 days after the initial infection. The first symptom at the site of inoculation could be pain and tingling; following are the major symptoms of tetanus,

• Neck stiffness, spasm of the muscles of the neck, abdomen and back   

• Trismus,  stiffness of the jaw (Lockjaw)

• Irritability 

• Rapid heartbeat    

• low-grade fever   

• Headache 

• Difficulties in swallowing 

• Excessive sweating  

• Irregular urination  

• Airway obstruction  

Tetanus causes 

The tetanus-causing bacteria clostridium tetani live in dust, dirt, rusty nail, needle, and soil. Clostridium tetani spores can live outside the body for quite a long time. Via a minor wound, burns or injury, tetanus bacteria may also enter the body. An animal bite can also cause tetanus. 

• Puncture wounds

• Crush injuries

• Insect bits Surgical procedures

• Superficial wounds Intravenous drug use

• Saliva or faeces burns

How common is tetanus?

Tetanus is no longer so common, work is still being done to reduce the risk of tetanus. Fortunately, since the invention of the vaccine, its risks have dwindled in developed countries. Children are vaccinated against it from an early age, but the number of patients in developing countries is still high.

Tetanus prevention 

Tetanus is a dangerous, and life-threatening disease. An active vaccination can avoid it. As part of the shot of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids, and acellular pertussis (DTaP), I regularly give the tetanus vaccine to children. 

The DTaP vaccine consists of 5 injections, the vaccine is administered to children aged 2, 4, 6 months and then 15 to 18 months and when the age is 4 to 6 years. Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids (Td) vaccine is given as two doses 4-6 weeks apart, a third dose 6-12 months later, for primary immunization of adults.

 A Booster is normally given between the ages of 11-18 years, and then booster doses are administered every ten years or the duration of serious injury if they occur more than five years after a dose. 

It is very common practice for individuals to take tetanus vaccine after any accident. If someone has been vaccinated so they don't need to be a vaccinated for tetanus after every wound or injury.

Can tetanus be cured?

Remember that tetanus is an incurable disease, in which the doctor tries his best to stop the complications from growing. The easiest way to treat and prevent tetanus is to get vaccinated against tetanus.

Tetanus vaccine during pregnancy 

During pregnancy, the tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccine is administered to reduce the risk of tetanus to both mother and unborn baby. It's the easiest way to take disease prevention. T-Dap is ideally recommended between the 27 and 36 weeks of gestation during pregnancy.

 If during this time this could not be done then TD should be given immediately after the baby is born. One dose of Tdap is prescribed for each pregnancy, regardless of the last dose of T-dap or Td vaccine the patient has taken. It protects the baby from pertussis (whooping cough).

Tetanus diagnoses; Tests are not usually needed to diagnose tetanus. Tetanus diagnosis is made in a clinical way.

Tetanus treatment 

A tetanus-pronounced wound should be treated immediately by a medical professional. To avoid infection, any cut or wound must be thoroughly washed. 

An important question, how long do you have to get a tetanus shot after a puncture wound? 

Human immune globulin tetanus, 500 units, it contains antibodies that kill clostridium tetani, if he hasn't had a tetanus shot in the last 5 years, should be intramuscularly administered within the first 24 hours of its presentation. 

It is controversial whether intrathecal administration would have any additional benefit. An unblinded, randomized study comparing intramuscular tetanus immune globulin with intramuscular plus intrathecal tetanus immune globulin found faster spasm resolution, fewer days of ventilatory help. 

However, the exact preparation of the immunoglobulin used was not specified, and the total dose was 4000 units. Tetanus dose does not produce natural immunity, and full a course of immunization with tetanus toxoid should be administered once the patient has recovered.

Patients may be prescribed to treat muscle spasms and stiffness, anticonvulsants such as gabapentin, frisium, diazepam may relax the muscles to prevent tetanus spasms. Pain killers are also given along with it. The patient is given 20 million units of penicillin and metronidazole intravenously daily, in divided doses.

A full recovery can take months. A deadly disease like tetanus can be prevented, if a doctor is consulted in time. Don't hesitate to consult a doctor if you have a minor injury or a major one.