A Simple guide to Tetanus

A Simple guide to Tetanus
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What is Tetanus?
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Tetanus is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani which lives in the soil.


How is Tetanus transmitted?
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Tetanus is transmitted by bacterial spores of the tetanus bacteria entering a wound in the skin of a person such as wounds caused by rusty nails. 


When the spore developed into the tetanus bacteria, it can produce a powerful toxin which can cause the muscles to go into spasm. 


In the jaw the muscle may go into spasm causing a condition called lockjaw.


In more severe cases the respiratory muscles can go into spasm resulting in stoppage of  breathing and therefore loss of oxygen to the brain and heart. 

This usually results in death unless treated.


The infections occur in persons of all ages.


What are the Signs and Symptoms of Tetanus?
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There is usually a history of a wound, laceration or operation with contamination of soil or rust in nails or surgical instruments.


Symptoms start off with:

1. irritability


2. fever


3. muscle cramps


4. lockjaw


5. difficulty in breathing or swallowing




What are the complications of Tetanus?
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Complications of tetanus occur when the muscle spasm affect the respiratory muscles resulting in inability to breathe.


The loss of oxygen to the heart can cause the heart to stop.


The loss of oxygen to the brain can cause the brain to stop functioning resulting in death.





What are the investigations necessary to diagnose Tetanus?
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The detection of tetanus bacterium in the wound can confirm tetanus infection.


What is the Treatment of Tetanus?
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Isolation in hospital is necessary.


1.Antibiotics (metronidazole) are used in the treatment of Tetanus.


2.Antitoxin can be given by intramuscular injection


3.Intravenous fluids given for dehydration


4.Respirator if breathing stops from spasm of respiratory muscles or vocal muscles


5.Proper wound cleansing is important to remove infections


6.Cardiac failure should be treated






What is the Prevention for Tetanus?
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Vaccination against Tetanus is the best prevention .


Since vaccination began, the worldwide incidence of Tetanus has declined.


Vaccination against Tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus (DPT) is usually given to


a baby at 3 months of age and repeated at 4 and 5 months of age.


There is also a booster vaccination at 18 months.


In adults tetanus vaccines are given in all cases of wounds:


first dose followed by a
second dose 6 weeks later and
third dose  6 months later and
fourth dose 18 months later


Besides the vaccinations there should be proper washing of wounds and avoidance of use of rusty instruments.


What is the prognosis in Tetanus?
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Death occurs in 30% of cases.


Mortality is highest in very young children and adults over 50.


Death is usually due to respiratory failure or heart failure.

A Simple guide to Whooping Cough

A Simple guide to Whooping Cough
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What is Whooping Cough?
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Whooping cough is an acute infectious childhood disease of the respiratory tract caused by the bacillus Bordetella pertussis.

How is Whooping Cough transmitted?
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Whooping Cough is transmitted by droplets from coughing spells.

It is highly infectious.

The early stage when it appears to be a cold is the most infectious peroid.

Most infections occur in children under six years of age.

One attack usually confers immunity

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Whooping Cough?
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The incubation peroid is usually 10 - 12 days after contact with an infected child.
Symptoms start off with:
1.an ordinary cold (runny nose, sneezing, cough, fever) for 1-2 weeks followed by:

2.uncontrolled coughing that can last 1 - 2 months.

Cough persists and become paroxysmal ending in a noisy inspiration "whoop" sound causing the child to go blue and vomit.

Between the spasms of coughing the child seems relatively well

What are the complications of Whooping Cough?
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The worst affected are children below the 1 year old.
Some serious complications are:
1.pneumonia,

2.seizures,

3.brain damage

4.nose bleeds

5.death can occur during the severe coughing stage.

Serious complications are less with older children or adults.

Adults rarely get whooping cough because their immmunity from vaccination usually last 10 years after the last dose.

When adults get whooping cough, a prolonged, irritating cough may be present instead of whooping type of cough.

What is the Treatment of Whooping Cough?
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Antibiotics (erythromycin) are used in the treatment of Whooping cough.

Once severe coughing has begun, antibiotics are less effective. They can reduce the duration of the illness and stop the spread to others.

Family members should be treated once there is an infected person.

Tetracycline is used if the patient is allergic to erythromycin but should avoided in children because of the staining of the teeth.

Besides antibiotics, the following will help:
1.Steam inhalation

2.cough mixtures

3.oxygen therapy

4.avoid smokes, dust, dry air,sudden temperature change

What is the Prevention for Whooping Cough?
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Vaccination against whooping cough is the best prevention .

Since vaccination began, the worldwide incidence of whooping cough has declined.

Vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus (DPT) is usually given to a baby at 3 months of age and repeated at 4 and 5 months of age.

There is a booster vaccination at 18 months.

In very rare cases (1 in 100,000 cases), there has been serious reactions such as seizures to the whooping cough part of the vaccination.

Recently, an improved acellular pertussis vaccine is now available. There are fewer side effects such as high fever and seizureswith this new vaccine.