Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease: it acts very quickly and often kills before the body\'s natural primary response can take place. There are about 1million cases of tetanus a year with between 300,000-500,000deaths. It is a global problem because tetanus spores, which cause the infection, are everywhere.
Tetanus may appear when injections or intravenous drips are given without proper sterilization. It is usually seen when drug addicts do not use properly sterilized needles/syringes.
If you visit a doctor or general practitioner on a regular basis, then you should have received a tetanus vaccination within the past ten years. However, you may not know what tetanus is, what causes this type of infection, and how to treat it. Since this illness can be quite deadly if no medical attention is sought, it is important for people to be aware of how tetanus is spread and what its symptoms are.
If you are taking regular injections (such as insulin), once the remedy had dealt with the injury, it will move on to anti-doting the injections. So stop when that happens. And don\'t be shy about consulting with a professional homeopath if you\'re unsure about the treatment
Tetanus is a serious disease which is caused when bacteria (Clostridium tetani) enter the body and cause an infection. The bacteria release a toxin which affects the nervous system and can cause a person to suffer muscle spasms and stiffness, increased heart rate, fever and sweating, breathing difficulties, and even death.
Tetanus can be a very serious sequel to an injury with broken skin or a puncture wound. But, getting it also means that your immune system is badly compromised.When you injure yourself and break the skin, there is always a possibility of getting an infection or worse, tetanus. If you take Arnica immediately and feel relief from the pain, then it is unlikely you will get either an infection or anything more serious.Infection typically comes after an unclean object has penetrated your skin. Such as barbed wire, a rusty nail. That sort of thing. This is known as a puncture or stab wound.
Because neonatal tetanus is a general infection that can spread throughout the baby\'s body, you may be aware of strong muscle contractions that can be powerful enough to break bones. Also, if the muscles controlling respiratory functions are forced into contractions, you may notice that your baby is having difficulty with breathing. This is a great danger for babies as tetanus can basically smother them.
Common symptoms of a tetanus infection include the following:
· Muscle spasms and uncontrolled contractions
· Breathing problems
· Jaw pain and stiffness
· Drooling
· Irritability
A form of tetanus found in newborns called neonatal tetanus occurs in infants born without protective passive immunity, because the mother is not immune. It usually occurs through infection of the unhealed umbilical stump, particularly when the stump is cut with an unsterile instrument. Though rare in this country, it causes about a quarter of a million deaths worldwide
Tetanus is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. It produces spores, which are very resistant and can survive treatment with many disinfectants. In its active form, the organism thrives in conditions with little oxygen. So damaged tissue buried underneath the skin is an ideal habitat.
The prevention of tetanus is through immunization. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends 5 doses of diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis (DTaP) vaccine for infants and children. One dose of DTaP vaccine is recommended at each of the following ages: 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years old. DTaP vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines. A booster shot of Tdap (an adult formulation) is recommended at ages 11-18 years. And then subsequently boost at least every 10 years.
The second most important step in the prevention of tetanus is immediate care of the wound. Roadside injuries should be given very careful attention as accidental wounds are almost always contaminated with tetanus spores and are likely to cause tetanus. Apart from a thorough cleaning of the wound, all foreign bodies; debris, etc. must be carefully removed, and if need be, even the whole wound may be surgically excised under anesthesia so that the wound becomes thoroughly sterile.
The first signs of this form of the disease is:
Tetanus Causes:
A tetanus infection arises when spores of the C. tetani bacteria are inserted into the body, under the skin. These bacteria tend to infect humans through some sort of cut or laceration. Typically, they enter the body through some sort of puncture wound.
C. tetani tend to live in damp outdoor environments, such as in the soil or animal waste. These bacteria can also be found on rusty nails, which is the most common item associated with a tetanus infection. However, even though these are the most common locations of C. tetani, the bacterium can really be found just about anywhere.
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