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Mild tetanus[edit]
Mild cases of tetanus can be treated with:[17]
tetanus immunoglobulin IV or IM
metronidazole IV for 10 days
diazepam
Severe tetanus[edit]
Severe cases will require admission to intensive care. In addition to the measures listed above for mild
tetanus:[17]
Human tetanus immunoglobulin injected intrathecally (increases clinical improvement from 4% to 35%)
Tracheotomy and mechanical ventilation for 3 to 4 weeks. Tracheostomy is recommended for securing the
airway, because the presence of an endotracheal tube is a stimulus for spasm
Magnesium, as an intravenous (IV) infusion, to prevent muscle spasm
Diazepam as a continuous IV infusion
The autonomic effects of tetanus can be difficult to manage (alternating hyperand hypotension hyperpyrexia/hypothermia) and may require IV labetalol, magnesium, clonidine, or nifedipine
Drugs such as diazepam or other muscle relaxants can be given to control the muscle spasms. In extreme cases
it may be necessary to paralyze the patient with curare-like drugs and use a mechanical ventilator.
In order to survive a tetanus infection, the maintenance of an airway and proper nutrition are required. An intake
of 3,500 to 4,000 calories, and at least 150 g of protein per day, is often given in liquid form through a tube
directly into the stomach (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy), or through a drip into a vein (parenteral
nutrition). This high-caloric diet maintenance is required because of the increased metabolic strain brought on
by the increased muscle activity. Full recovery takes 4 to 6 weeks because the body must regenerate destroyed
nerve axon terminal](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/tetanusgasgangrene-131211041853-phpapp02/75/Tetanus-13-2048.jpg)
Uploaded byDr Ramesh R
Tetanus
Tetanus is a medical condition caused by a toxin produced by Clostridium tetani bacteria. It is characterized by prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The toxin enters the body through breaks in the skin like wounds, burns, or puncture wounds. Incubation periods can last up to months but symptoms usually appear within 2 weeks. Generalized tetanus is the most common type and causes painful muscle spasms, lockjaw, and stiffness. It can be life-threatening if not properly treated with a tetanus immunoglobulin and antibiotic like metronidazole.
More Related Content
Tetanus
- 1.
- 2. Tetanus ( "tostretch") is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers due to an EXOTOXIN produced by C.Tetani
- 3. Contaminated wounds Deep wounds Devitalized(dead) tissue Puncture wounds, such as those caused by nails, splinters, or insect bites BURNS pt Any break in the skin Injection-drug sites. Newborn child (by means of the uterus after delivery and through the umbilical cord stump).
- 4. Up to severalmonths, but is usually about 14 days. In general, the further the injury site is from the central nervous system, the longer the incubation period. The shorter the incubation period, the more severe the symptoms. In neonatal tetanus, symptoms usually appear from 4 to 14 days after birth, averaging about 7 days.
- 5. This is themost common type of tetanus,80% of cases. Descending pattern. The first sign is trismus, or lockjaw, Facial spasms called risus sardonicus, Followed by stiffness of the neck, Difficulty in swallowing, and Rigidity of pectoral and calf muscles. Spasms may occur frequently and last for several minutes with the body shaped into a characteristic form called opisthotonos. Spasms continue for up to four weeks, and complete recovery may take months. Sympathetic overactivity (soa) is common in severe tetanus and Death can occur within four days.
- 6. This is aform of generalized tetanus that occurs in newborns. Infants who have not acquired passive immunity because the mother has never been immunized are at risk. It usually occurs through infection of the unhealed umbilical stump, particularly when the stump is cut with a non-sterile instrument. Neonatal tetanus is common in many developing countries and is responsible for about 14% (215,000) of all neonatal deaths, but is very rare in developed countries.
- 7. This is anuncommon form of the disease, in which patients have persistent contraction of muscles in the same anatomic area as the injury. The contractions may persist for many weeks before gradually subsiding. Local tetanus is generally milder; only about 1% of cases are fatal, but it may precede the onset of generalized tetanus.
- 8. This is arare form of the disease, occasionally occurring with otitis media (ear infections) in which C. tetani is present in the flora of the middle ear, or following injuries to the head. There is involvement of the cranial nerves, especially in the facial area.
- 9. Tetanospasmin/Potent neurotoxin Also calledspasmogenic toxin, or TeNT. The LD50 of this toxin has been measured to be approximately 1 ng/kg, making it second only to Botulinum toxin D as the deadliest toxin in the world Tetanus toxin causes violent spastic paralysis by blocking the release of γ-aminobutyric acid. γ-aminobutyric acid is a neurotransmitter that inhibits motor neurons.[
- 10.
- 11. Act by inhibitingrelease of cholinesterase Act at spinal level & cause contraction due to minor stimuli Toxin fixed to nervous tissue cannot be neutralised
- 12. Spatula test :involvestouching the posterior pharyngeal wall with a sterile, soft-tipped instrument and observing the effect. A positive test result is the involuntary contraction of the jaw (biting down on the "spatula") Negative test result would normally be a gag reflex attempting to expel the foreign object
- 13. Mild tetanus[edit] Mild casesof tetanus can be treated with:[17] tetanus immunoglobulin IV or IM metronidazole IV for 10 days diazepam Severe tetanus[edit] Severe cases will require admission to intensive care. In addition to the measures listed above for mild tetanus:[17] Human tetanus immunoglobulin injected intrathecally (increases clinical improvement from 4% to 35%) Tracheotomy and mechanical ventilation for 3 to 4 weeks. Tracheostomy is recommended for securing the airway, because the presence of an endotracheal tube is a stimulus for spasm Magnesium, as an intravenous (IV) infusion, to prevent muscle spasm Diazepam as a continuous IV infusion The autonomic effects of tetanus can be difficult to manage (alternating hyperand hypotension hyperpyrexia/hypothermia) and may require IV labetalol, magnesium, clonidine, or nifedipine Drugs such as diazepam or other muscle relaxants can be given to control the muscle spasms. In extreme cases it may be necessary to paralyze the patient with curare-like drugs and use a mechanical ventilator. In order to survive a tetanus infection, the maintenance of an airway and proper nutrition are required. An intake of 3,500 to 4,000 calories, and at least 150 g of protein per day, is often given in liquid form through a tube directly into the stomach (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy), or through a drip into a vein (parenteral nutrition). This high-caloric diet maintenance is required because of the increased metabolic strain brought on by the increased muscle activity. Full recovery takes 4 to 6 weeks because the body must regenerate destroyed nerve axon terminal
Editor's Notes
- #6 On the basis of clinical findings, four different forms of tetanus have been described