Tetanus

The short characteristic of a disease and its prevalence in modern conditions

Tetanus is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases which is characterized by release of deadly toxin and extremely rapid clinical current. To understand all weight of tetanus, it is enough to know that from 30 to 50% of patients die even if vaccination against tetanus is done to them. In regions where medical care is developed very poorly, mortality of patients can reach 85-90%.

Tetanus is caused by life activity of bacteria which get into an organism through wounds and other damages of an integument. The most favorable conditions for reproduction of causative agents of tetanus are created in the hot and wet environment therefore the greatest number of death from tetanus is registered in the equatorial countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. However, and in rather safe Europe tetanus claims every year thousands of the lives therefore it is not necessary to speak about its safety for the developed regions meanwhile.

Causative agent of tetanus and way of infection

Causative agents of tetanus concern to the Bacillaceae family. In usual conditions causative agents of tetanus breed in intestines of animals and the person, without doing them any harm. At hit in a wound and lack of oxygen bacilli peace earlier completely change. They begin to emit actively toxin which is considered one of the strongest bacterial poisons. He acts very quickly, and the first symptoms of tetanus are observed at the person in several hours after infection. Let's notice also that waste products of activators are not soaked up through a mucous membrane and are completely safe at a proglatyvaniye though during the heating and influence of ultraviolet radiation they perish very quickly.

As it was already told, the tetanus inoculation can be necessary for the person at wounds and damages of an integument or mucous membranes. Deep chipped wounds in which ideal conditions for development of harmful microorganisms are formed are most dangerous in this plan. Besides, the infection can become more active at burns, frostbites, inflammatory diseases. Tetanus is transmitted to the newborn child through the umbilical cord cut with badly processed tools.

It is necessary to be careful always and everywhere, in some cases the infection is brought in an organism even through the small wounds which arose, say, when you step a bare foot on a bur or accidentally injure skin a splinter.

Clinical picture and symptoms of tetanus

Scientists distinguish 4 periods of a disease.

Tetanus symptoms in an incubation interval – duration from several hours to 60 days has. At this stage of a bacterium get into a medium and begin to breed with release of toxin. Patients can feel a headache, perspiration, a muscle tension, an acrimony, a fever, sleeplessness and other psychoneurological frustration.

Tetanus symptoms at an initial stage – at patients are observed dull nagging pains in the field of a wound. Along with it the first characteristic symptoms of tetanus, for example, a lockjaw – convulsive reduction of masseters because of which it is sometimes impossible to open a mouth are shown.

Tetanus symptoms in the period of a disease heat – 8-12 days usually proceed, but in hard cases this term can increase by 2-3 times. Duration of an active phase of tetanus depends on that how soon the patient saw a doctor whether vaccination was done against tetanus, damages of an integument are how large-scale. At this stage the main symptoms of an infection are at full capacity shown:

• spasms of mimic muscles therefore the person has characteristic "smile";
• difficulties at a food proglatyvaniye;
• strong muscle tension of extremities and stomach;
• painful spasms;
• plentiful sweating;
• persistent sleeplessness;
• apnoea, cyanosis, asphyxia;
• frustration of an urination and blood circulation;
• high temperature

If vaccination against tetanus is not done to the patient, he, as a rule, dies of a spasm of respiratory muscles or paralysis of a cardiac muscle. Lead to death also other factors: myocardial infarction, sepsis, embolism, pneumonia.

The recovery period – if specialists of the beginning in time to treat tetanus, symptoms gradually come to naught. This stage can proceed within 2 months, and all this time of the patient is especially subject to risk of development of various complications therefore it is necessary to control its state constantly.

Treatment of tetanus

All treatments of tetanus have to be carried out by experienced doctors in the conditions of a hospital. The course of treatment of tetanus includes:

• fight against causative agents of tetanus in the field of primary center (opening of a wound, removal of devitalized sites of skin, sanitation and aeration);
• administration of antitetanic serum;
• stopping of severe spasms;
• maintenance of life activity of all systems of an organism;
• prevention of complications;
• good nutrition, vitamin-rich and microelements for immunity strengthening.

It is desirable to place the patient with tetanus in separate chamber in order to avoid a negative impact of external irritants. At its bed the round-the-clock post for continuous monitoring of a condition of the person will be organized. If the patient cannot eat food independently, to him enter it by means of the special probe. Liquid food stuffs (milk, broths, fruit drinks) are recommended. Waters has to be enough to fill losses of liquid as a result of perspiration. Treatment of tetanus lasts from 1 to 3 months.

Prevention of tetanus

Prevention of tetanus is conducted in several directions at once. It is especially important to avoid injuries and to carry out information work among the population. Besides, to children aged from 6 months up to 17 years the tetanus inoculation becomes. If it was not succeeded to avoid serious injuries, then the emergency prevention of tetanus is recommended to all not vaccinated people.