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When you accidentally step on a nail, many people usually recommend that you get a tetanus shot. However, some people still do not understand clearly why tetanus injections are needed and whether they are really needed. For more details, see the following review.
Tetanus at a glance
Source: Time Toast
Tetanus is a serious infection caused by Clostridium tetani. These bacteria produce toxins that can affect the brain and nervous system. Spores Clostridium tetani lodged in the wound can irritate the nerves that control muscle movement.
Tetanus symptoms usually appear about 7 to 10 days after infection. However, in some cases symptoms usually appear within weeks or even months. The farther the wound is from the central nervous system, the longer the symptoms will appear. Conversely, the closer to the central nerve, the faster the incubation period and the more severe the symptoms appear.
The most common symptoms are muscle stiffness and spasms. Usually starting from the neck to the throat, accompanied by symptoms of difficulty swallowing. Then you can also experience spasms in the face and chest muscles that can cause difficulty breathing. In severe cases, the spine can curve backwards because the bacteria affects the back muscles.
In addition, people who have tetanus also experience the following symptoms:
- Fever.
- Diarrhea and bloody stools.
- Headache.
- Sensitive to touch.
- Sore throat.
- Sweating more than usual.
- Heart rate increases.
- Muscle spasms to the neck, throat, chest, stomach, legs and back.
Is it necessary to get a tetanus shot after stepping on the nail?
One of the things that causes tetanus is when a person has a puncture wound on an object that has been contaminated with bacteria, so the risk of infection increases. One of them is the nails that have rust. If you experience this, then is it necessary to have a tetanus shot? The answer yes. Anyone who has had internal injuries from dirty sharp objects and has not been vaccinated against for tetanus in the past five years should be given a tetanus shot.
The tetanus shot that is given can be in the form of tetanus toxoid (TT) which is often known as the tetanus vaccine, or tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) which is known as a tetanus antibody. Usually for stab wounds that are not too severe, and you have had more than 3 doses of the tetanus vaccine, you only need to be given TT.
However, if the stab wound is a dirty wound, large enough, with a history of TT vaccine of less than 3 doses, then you need to be given TT with an additional TIG to fight the tetanus bacteria.
Because tetanus is a serious bacterial infection that can paralyze the entire body and eventually cause death. Tetanus is a medical emergency and a tetanus shot is one of the treatments that can be done to prevent it.
Tetanus-prone wounds should be treated immediately by a doctor. List of injuries that are included at risk include:
- Burns that required surgery but had been delayed for more than six hours.
- Burns that remove a lot of body tissue.
- Animal bite wounds.
- Puncture wounds such as nails, needles, and others that have been contaminated with dirt or soil.
- Serious fracture where the bone becomes infected.
- Burns in patients with systemic sepsis.
Every patient with the above injuries should receive a tetanus shot as soon as possible, even if previously vaccinated. The goal is to kill bacteria Clostridium tetani. The doctor will immediately inject it into a vein.
However, because these injections only have a short-term effect, the doctor will also prescribe antibiotics such as penicillin or metonidazole to treat tetanus. These antibiotics prevent bacteria from multiplying and produce neurotoxins that cause muscle spasms and stiffness.
