Tetanus is an infection caused severe nervous system from the bacterium Clostridium tetani, is usually found in soil, dust and animal droppings. The bacterium has infected the body usually through a reduction or deep puncture wound, and can also injuries such as burns, frostbite and burning when endangering natural defenses of skin effect.
Tetanus can not be transmitted person to person contact, by direct infection of the blood and can not go into tetanus.
The symptom is usually characteristic of muscle tension and stiffness of neck and jaw (called trismus and tetanus).
In the space of 24-48 hours, the rigidity of the muscles of the body spreads to the extremities and the ability to swallow and breathe less. Patients who are sensitive to light, noise and physical contact in the early stages of tetanus stimulus and can cause painful muscle spasms that involved fractures and dislocations. For this reason, patients are usually treated in the quiet dark place to reduce those risks.
Because of widespread vaccination in childhood, tetanus is now extremely rare in developed countries. In the United States, only 130 cases were reported during the period 1998-2000 (ie 2005), which appears more acute among unvaccinated or inadequately vaccinated persons after injury.
Treatment includes administration of antitoxin in patients who have not been vaccinated properly, clean the wound, and medical control of symptoms. Patients may require invasive medical treatments in the ICU to help with breathing and eating too much.
Most patients recover from tetanus and return to full health within 2-4 months.