What will happen with tetanus?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Firstly, it should be noted that tetanus is a curable specific infection. Typically, after being infected with tetanus, the early symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, refusal of weakness, jaw pain, or some hyperreflexia.

As the condition worsens, symptoms such as muscle spasms, muscle rigidity, risus sardonicus, difficulty opening the mouth, lockjaw, opisthotonos, and stiffness in the neck can occur. In severe cases, there may be difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest, and even cardiac arrest.

The vast majority of tetanus patients can fully recover through proper and systematic treatment.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Is it necessary to get a tetanus shot?

Getting a tetanus shot is very necessary if a patient has had an injury or has wounds on the body. Without a tetanus shot, there might be a risk of tetanus infection. The main reason is due to the presence of tetanus bacillus spores in the natural environment, which could colonize within the wound if it's exposed. This can potentially lead to a tetanus infection. Severe cases can present with symptoms such as opisthotonos, breathing difficulties, suffocation, and could even lead to death. The tetanus shot involves injecting tetanus antitoxin into the patient's body, which is a form of passive immunity and can prevent some symptoms of tetanus infection.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Can you eat eggs if you have tetanus?

Tetanus patients should eat more light food, with low fat and sodium content, and avoid strong irritants, such as spicy foods. They can eat more foods containing protein, because sufficient protein in the body can help heal wounds and also provide enough energy for the patients, which is beneficial to their condition. Therefore, tetanus patients can eat a moderate amount of eggs.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Is tetanus an anaerobic bacterium?

Tetanus is a specific infection often associated with trauma. In addition to various traumas, it can also occur in parturient women and newborns under unsanitary conditions. The pathogen is Clostridium tetani, an obligate anaerobe that stains positive under Gram staining conditions. Normally present in the intestines of humans and animals, it is distributed in nature and common in soil. This type of bacteria has strong resistance to environmental conditions and can withstand boiling.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Can tetanus be cured?

Tetanus is a curable disease. It is usually caused by an infection with the tetanus bacillus, which produces a specific infection in the human body. Clinically, it is mainly manifested as muscle tension and rigidity, with the primary symptoms being difficulty opening the mouth, a sardonic smile, neck stiffness, and opisthotonos. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory confusion, respiratory arrest, or cardiac arrest. Therefore, patients with tetanus should go to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible. With standardized and systematic treatment, the vast majority of patients can be cured.

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Written by Gao Jun
Emergency Surgery
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Initial symptoms of tetanus

The bacterium that causes tetanus is Clostridium tetani, which is an anaerobic bacterium. If the wound is deep and enclosed in an environment lacking oxygen, it creates a suitable environment for the growth and reproduction of Clostridium tetani. Its incubation period is generally around one week. Early symptoms may include general fatigue, localized muscle tension, and uncontrollable spasms. The first muscles affected are usually the facial chewing muscles, and it can then progress to intense, spasmodic contractions of muscles throughout the body, and even cause fractures. Mild stimuli such as light, sound, or drinking water can trigger and worsen these symptoms, somewhat similar to rabies. However, a characteristic feature of tetanus is that the patient remains mentally clear. Most patients may die from respiratory spasms leading to asphyxiation, heart failure, or lung infections.