Tetanus

__Tetanus __  **//(Clostridium tetani)//** __**General Information:**__ Tetanus, is a //**infectious**// disease which is also called "Lockjaw". It is a **__//preventable//__** but yet //**__fatal__**// disease which causes prolonged muscle contractions and muscle spasms which happens all over the body and also "locks" the jaws, hence the name "Lockjaw". This disease is caused by the contamination of wounds with the spore of this bacteria. __**Transmission:**__ The bacteria which is responsible for Tetanus is scientifically called //Clostridium tetani.// They appear in two forms, either as spores (dormant/inactive) which can live a few years or in the form of a vegetative cell(active). This bacteria appear in the form of spores while in the soil, dust, animal wastes and intestines. __** Wounds contaminated with these spores are quite common, and the disease will only happen if the spores germinates and change into active cells. **__ The most well know symptom of Tetanus is muscle **__rigidity and spasm,__** often the facial muscles are often affected first and this condition is called Lockjaw.However, other than the signature muscle symptoms, there are other symptoms for generalized Tetanus are as followings:-
 * 1) The process starts when wounds are contaminated with this spore.
 * 2) The infection process starts when the spores are activated and they start to develop into gram-positive bacteria which multiplies and produces a toxin.
 * 3) The toxin "tetanospasmin" affects the motor nerves by entering the axon and reaching the motor nerves in the spinal core or brainstem.
 * 4) Then the toxin interferes with neurotransmitters in the nerves and causes chemical instructions to increase, hence causing regional muscle spasms.
 * 5) If the toxin is carried away by the blood streams, muscle spasm may happen on other muscle tissues
 * __High-risk Wounds__** Nearly all kinds of wounds which are contaminated with this spore have the potential to cause this disease. Some of the common wounds/injuries at risk are:
 * burns
 * IV access sites
 * frostbites
 * surgery
 * crush injuries
 * abscesses
 * childbirth
 * // Injuries which includes foreign bodies and dead tissue are most at risk of developing Tetanus .//**
 * __Symptoms__** The incubation period is about //**3 days to 3 week**//.[[image:http://www.jhuccp.org/mmc/db_images/imagebas/UGA7.JPG align="right" caption="Some symptoms of Tetanus"]]

>   __**Treatments:**__In developing countries, Tetanus have killed hundreds of thousands of new-born babies and took lives of their mothers away soon after birth. Not properly sterilized facilities have caused these tragedies to happen Although treatments are available, in recent researches, it is estimated that **__//40%//__** of all incidents are fatal. Other than this, infants infected with Tetanus are almost certainly fatal. **__ To treat Tetanus, antibiotics are used and sedatives are injected to control muscle spasms. Also wounds will be cleaned of all foreign bodies to clean of the bacteria. __**
 * Irritability
 * Stiffness in the neck
 * Swallowing difficulties
 * Rigid abdominal muscles
 * Spasms in the neck, arms, legs, and abdomen
 * Convulsions, which are sometimes severe enough to break bones

**__Preventions__**:// Of course, prevention is alays better than medications, so vaccines called DTP ( //diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis// ) shots are given to infants at the first year, and to ensure immunity, booster shot should be given every 10 years. // media type="youtube" key="jPUQakhyPDA?fs=1" height="385" width="480" References:[|TETANUS] [|http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/emergencies_first_aid/90846] Tetanus - Bacteria, Disease, Body, Spasms, Months, and Infants. (n.d.). //Science Encyclopedia//. Retrieved September 1, 2010, from http://science.jrank.org/pages/6775/Tetanus.html

Tetanus. (n.d.). //emedicinehealth//. Retrieved September 1, 2010, from www.emedicinehealth.com/tetanus/article_em.htm#Tetanus%20OverviewTetanus: MedlinePlus. (n.d.). //National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health//. Retrieved September 1, 2010, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tetanus.html Tetanus, the silent killer. Retrieved September 1, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/v/jPUQakhyPDA?fs=1