– Tetanus is a bacterial disease caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani.
– The fatal disease attacks the nervous system and the muscles. It is dangerous if left unattended to.
The disease is caused by an exposure to the bacterium through a wound or injury that breaks the skin.
– The bacterium is commonly found in soil and animal feces; it produces a toxin that affects the nerves and causes muscle spasms.
Tetanus is trigger-accelerated by:
• Any wound or injury that breaks the skin, such as cuts, burns, animal bites, punctures, or injections.
• Deep, dirty wounds that are contaminated with soil or feces.
• Unclean and or untreated wounds.
• Lack of immunity to the bacterium due to not being vaccinated or not having a booster dose.
The people who are most likely to get tetanus are:
• People who have not been vaccinated or have not completed the vaccination schedule.
• People who have not had a booster dose of the vaccine in the last 10 years.
• Travellers to or dwellers of areas where tetanus is common or where medical care is limited.
• Individuals with a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS, cancer, malnutrition, or other conditions.
Tetanus is common in places like:
• Rural and agricultural areas, where contact with soil and animals is frequent.
• Areas affected by natural disasters, wars, or conflicts, where wounds are common and medical care is scarce.
• The sub-saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America where vaccination coverage is low and limited health care.
Tetanus can be prevented through:
• Being vaccinated with the tetanus vaccine, usually given in combination with diphtheria and pertussis vaccines (DTaP or Tdap).
– The vaccine is recommended for infants at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months of age and again at 4-6 years of age and adolescents at 11-12 years of age and adults every 10 years.
• The vaccine is vital for pregnant women.
The treatment of tetanus involves:
• Cleaning and dressing the wound, giving an injection of tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG), and administering antibiotics. TIG is a medicine containing antibodies that neutralize the toxin and prevent its effects on the nerves. It provides an immediate but short-term protection from tetanus.
• Antibiotics help kill the bacteria and prevent further production of the toxin.
• Supportive care such as _painkillers, muscle relaxants, sedatives, oxygen therapy, and mechanical ventilation_is essential too
• People with tetanus should be admitted to a hospital intensive care unit (ICU) where they can be closely monitored and treated.
🔅How is the international governance and the medical fraternity responding to the tetanus threat?
– The medical field has been responding to tetanus over the years and currently by:
• Developing and improving the tetanus vaccine and increasing its availability and accessibility worldwide.
• Promoting vaccination campaigns and education programs to raise awareness and prevent tetanus among high-risk groups and populations.
• Conducting research and surveillance to monitor the incidence and prevalence of tetanus and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and control measures.
• Providing guidelines and protocols for diagnosis and management of tetanus cases and outbreaks.
