Have you ever cut your hand while cutting vegetables? Have you ever been pricked by glass while wearing bangles? Have you ever had a nail pierce your foot while walking? If yes, then the doctor must have given you a tetanus injection at some time or the other. Common people know only this much about tetanus that its vaccination is necessary in case of injury but perhaps they do not know that it is a fatal disease. Our World in Data (our world in data) According to the organization’s report, every year 50 thousand people in the world die due to tetanus infection. Till now there is no cure for this disease.
muscles start to tighten
At Surabhi Hospital in Noida in the department of internal medicine Senior Consultant Dr. Abhishek Walia He told that tetanus infection is caused by a bacteria called ‘Clostridium tetani’. This bacteria attacks the nervous system. It causes body pain and muscles get stiff and start cramping. Sometimes there is high fever as well. If it is treated in time, then this infection gets cured in 2 to 4 months.
This is how infection can take your life
Dr. Abhishek Walia According to him, whenever there is an injury, a tetanus injection must be administered. If the tetanus bacteria attack the muscles of the mouth, it can even be fatal. This causes the muscle of the mouth called masseter to tighten, which is called masseter in medical language. Lock Jaw This condition is called. This causes so much stiffness that the patient is unable to even breathe.
It is important to take a tetanus injection within 24 hours of the injury. (Image-Canva)
Bacteria are not easily eliminated
Penn Medicine According to him, tetanus bacteria is present in soil, dust and animal feces. Through air, these bacteria can settle on the surface of anything. This bacteria can survive for more than 40 years. It grows rapidly in the absence of oxygen. It is not destroyed even at a temperature of 120 degrees. Most medicines also do not have any effect on it. Infection from this bacteria occurs only when there is any kind of cut or wound on the skin.
Symptoms start appearing in 3 to 21 days
The tetanus poison reaches the central nervous system and affects the functioning of neurotransmitters. This poison disturbs the activity of muscles and the brain is unable to send messages to the muscles properly. In simple words, the person gets paralyzed. Sometimes the person also starts having seizures. Mayo Clinic According to him, the symptoms of this infection start appearing in 3 to 21 days. As the effect of infection increases, a person starts sweating a lot, blood pressure and heart beat increase rapidly. Many times due to this the heart also stops working and the person loses his life due to cardiac arrest.
There are 4 types of tetanus infection
There are four types of tetanus infection. In localized tetanus, the effect of the infection is limited to the part of the body where it occurs. Generalized tetanus affects the entire body. Cerebral tetanus affects the muscles of the head, throat and face and neonatal tetanus can occur in newborn babies due to the mother not getting vaccinated against it.
Sometimes tetanus infection also occurs due to infected injection needle. (Image-Canva)
Tetanus injection is necessary in case of animal bite
If someone is bitten by a cat, dog, monkey or any insect, then they must get a tetanus injection along with rabies within 24 hours. Actually, this bacteria can also be present in the mouth of the animal. Not only this, if there is an injury by nail, glass, nails, stone or needle or if a tattoo is made, then also its vaccination is necessary. Mayo Clinic According to him, even if there is no injury, every person should get this injection every 10 years. By doing this, the immunity of the person is boosted and if the tetanus bacteria enters the body, it becomes ineffective.
People with diabetes should be careful
Tetanus bacteria spreads quickly in the body of elderly people and diabetes patients. In fact, if a diabetes patient gets hurt, his wounds do not heal quickly. In such a situation, they are at a higher risk of tetanus.
Danger to the baby during pregnancy
world health organisation According to him, carelessness during pregnancy can prove fatal for the child. 90% of children die due to carelessness during cutting the umbilical cord during delivery. Sometimes tetanus can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy. Therefore, 2 doses of tetanus toxoid are given to the woman in the first 3 months of pregnancy. This keeps the child safe through the umbilical cord.
Tags: dog attack, Health, Medical
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 17, 2024, 18:24 IST
