What are the most common signs of tetanus?

Tetanus symptoms include stiffness in joints and muscles, muscle cramps, swallowing and laborious breathing. Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease that affects muscles and nerves. The disease is not contagious; People get infected when the toxin produced by the bacteria found in the soil enters the body through the wound, open pain or ingestion. This toxin connects to the nerves associated with the brain or spinal cord, enters the brain or spinal cord, and changes nerve signals transmitted from these areas, which in turn causes confusion to the nervous system and muscles. No physical examination or blood tests capable of detecting bacteria or toxin that cause tetanus; Knowledge of tetanus symptoms is the only way to diagnose infection. Of all the symptoms of tetanus, stiffness in the jaw, neck, joints and muscles are usually in the first place. Due to the inability of many suffering to open their mouths after the infection of Tetano, the celebration is also called "LockJaw". As the infection progresses, the muscles in the face may involuntarily download, causing the appearance of Nucea smile. The stiffness in the throat and esophagus can suppress swallowing.

The best known signs of tetanus are muscle cramps. Communication between muscles and brain or spine is distorted because toxin still disrupts the signals. As a result, the muscles will start to tighten constantly, which is a process commonly known as convulsions.

Although the muscles closest to the wounds, as time progresses, the muscles at the back, neck and abdomen are also affected. In these muscle groups, muscles necessary for breathing are included. When the respiratory muscles of convulsions, breathing becomes difficult and increases the possibility of death by stubborn. The result is that patients who have breathing problems can be forced to use respiratory machines.

If tetanus symptoms are identified in time, recovery from infection is possible. Recovery usually lasts four to six weeks. Tetanus treatment requires antibiotics to destroy bacteria and toxin associated with weakness. To restoreMuscle cramps and restoration of breathing can be provided with additional medicines.

tetanus can be prevented by proper vaccination. Most of the suffering tetanus are older people who have reached common in childhood vaccination and children in developing countries that do not have access to such vaccines and live in poor hygiene areas. Tetanus symptoms in adults and tetanus symptoms in children are similar, so those who take care of the elderly or come into contact with the inhabitants of developing countries may not distinguish between age when recognizing tetanus.