Tetanus is a serious infection caused by the actions of a particular bacteria. This infection which is normally formed through the cuts and wounds in the skin can be fatal at times. As there are no permanent cures for this problem, preventive vaccines are very important. This disease does not show instant symptoms. Moreover, there are several occasions when the symptoms of tetanus become severe and fatal. So, it is important to have a deeper understanding of tetanus, its symptoms, risks, and more details, which will be discussed in this article. Read on to learn more about tetanus infection.
What Is A Tetanus Infection?
Tetanus is a bacterial infection that mainly affects the nervous system in humans. Under this condition, the spores of the bacterium Clostridium tetani will cause infection with its toxins. As it is highly tolerant to heat and most antiseptics, these spores last for several years, which increases the risks of this disease. The muscles of the jaw and neck are particularly affected by this disease, giving it the name lockjaw. As tetanus does not show immediate symptoms, it can be life-threatening at times. Moreover, there is no permanent cure for the disease which makes taking vaccines important.
Normally, it takes around 14 days for the tetanus symptoms to be noticeable. However, the incubation period of this disease may range from 3-21 days. Some of the most common symptoms of tetanus include:
- Muscle spasms and stiffness, lead to difficult muscle movements
- Difficulty in opening mouth
- Muscle spasms triggered by sudden noises
- Headaches
- Seizures
- High fever
- Fluctuations in blood pressure and heartbeats
When should you get a tetanus shot after an injury?
The necessity and importance of a tetanus shot after an injury depends on the type of the injury. The wounds caused by sharp or metal objects cause higher risks of tetanus infections. So, in such situations, a tetanus shot is mandatory. Furthermore, if the wound is deep and gets contaminated with dirt, dust, or saliva, a tetanus injection is required. However, a person who hasn’t taken a tetanus booster shot in 10 years should get one, even if their injury is small.
The days in which the injections are taken also have a crucial role. It is said that tetanus injections should be taken as soon as possible after an injury. As days increase, the effect of the injections reduces causing more risks. According to medical professionals, a tetanus injection should be taken within 48 hours of injury.
Risk factors of tetanus infection
The major risk factor of tetanus lies in not being vaccinated. The major preventive measure against tetanus is vaccination and it is important that every individual complete their tetanus vaccination. However, some people, especially those in underdeveloped countries skip them, increasing the risks of tetanus. The other risk elements that increase the chances of tetanus are:
- Wounds and injuries getting exposed to soil or dust
- Interaction of foreign bodies with the injury
- Immune-suppressing medications
- Immune disorders
- Health conditions like diabetes prolong the wound healing time
- Needles or syringes that are not sterilized
- Using unsanitized medical types of equipment
Conclusion
Tetanus is a not-so-common yet dangerous health concern. Caused by the spores of a bacterium called Clostridium tetani mainly affects the muscles in the jaw and neck, leading to muscle contractions.
So, this infection is also called a lockjaw. Although tetanus may not show its symptoms in the initial days, it can be identified with difficulty in opening the mouth, seizures, high fever, muscle spasms triggered by sudden noise, and muscle stiffness. So, taking a tetanus injection soon after an injury or wound is important.
Although the necessity of taking a shot depends on the type of injury, wounds caused by metal objects and wounds polluted by dirt and saliva need injections. Along with maintaining tetanus injections and booster shorts taking necessary precautions against the risks that increase the chances of tetanus are also crucial.
FAQs
If a cut or a wound is contaminated with dust, dirt, or saliva, it may lead to infection. Under such situations, a tetanus shot is required. Additionally, a wound caused by metals also needs a tetanus shot.
Big or small, an injury breaking the skin has a higher risk of tetanus infection. So, medical experts often recommend taking tetanus injections.
Normally, it is advised to take a tetanus injection before 72 hours of the wound, especially if the person has not taken a tetanus shot for a long while.
Although the wound is cleaned, a person will be recommended to take a tetanus shot if they have not got one in 10 years.
Although the symptoms of tetanus infection may not begin to appear until a week, doctors take a tetanus injection within 48 hours of injury.
Yes. Tetanus does not show symptoms right after the injury. It may take around 10-14 days to show symptoms, causing tetanus.
