Table of contents:
- How does someone get tetanus?
- Tetanus can affect anyone, including you
- Tetanus symptoms you should know about
Tetanus is a disease caused by toxins or toxins from the anaerobic bacteria Clostridium tetani. This powerful poison is called tetanospasmin. These toxins will attack the nervous system that controls muscles, or what is commonly referred to as motor nerves ormotor neurons.
As is well known, all limbs are moved by muscles, and muscles can move because of the information channels from the motor nerves. Motor nerve disorders will certainly cause abnormalities in the movement of your muscles. This is what is called tetanus.
How does someone get tetanus?
Baktei Clostridium tetani can be found all over the world. Usually this type of bacteria is found in soil, dust, or feces from animals and humans.
When you are pierced with nails or exposed to other sharp objects that are not sterile, the bacteria on them will enter the wound. The bacterial spores will grow into bacteria. This collection of bacteria will produce toxins that attack your motor nerves and immediately cause tetanus symptoms.
Tetanus can affect anyone, including you
People of all ages around the world can develop tetanus symptoms. However, tetanus is usually very serious if it affects newborns and their mothers. Mothers who are not vaccinated against Tetanus Toxoid (TT) will be very vulnerable. It is very important for mothers to administer the Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine.
Usually tetanus that occurs in newborns, or also known as neonatal tetanus, is very fatal because the patient is in a suburb or village. In fact, tetanus must be treated in an appropriate and sterile hospital.
WHO estimates that neonatal tetanus killed 49,000 newborns in 2013. This figure had decreased to 94% in 1988, namely 787,000 babies. For this reason, tetanus in babies really needs to be watched out for. But it's not just babies who need to be vigilant. You should also be aware of the following symptoms because you may also have tetanus.
Tetanus symptoms you should know about
The first symptom of tetanus appears is a contraction that occurs in the jaw muscles or what is commonly called lockjaw. Then, the neck muscles will feel stiff. You can't open your mouth and have difficulty swallowing food.
Another muscle that usually contracts is the abdominal muscles. You can also feel stiffness in the muscles all over your body. This occurs because the toxins in bacteria attack your motor nerves.
If left untreated, spasms and stiffness will occur all over the body, causing pain until the spine curves. This is called epistotonus and lasts for several minutes. These seizures are triggered by a sudden, minor event such as physical touch, light, or a loud sound.
Tetanus can cause death if the sufferer has difficulty breathing, because the respiratory muscles are not functioning normally.
Other symptoms of tetanus that sometimes accompany headaches, fever, and persistent sweating. Blood pressure can also increase and the heart rate is very fast.
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