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Back to Infectious Diseases
Tetanus
Tetanus is a disease that results from wound infection with
clostridium tetani. The injury may be a trivial nail prick, a
contaminated surgical wound, a gun shot wound or an infected umbilical
stump.
At the site of infection the spores germinate. The toxin is
released and reaches the CNS by retrograde axonal transport or via the
blood stream where it becomes fixed to gangliosides in spinal cord and
brain stem and exerts its action.
Symptoms and signs
3 main types of clinical disease
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Generalized tetanus
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Localized tetanus.
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Tetanus neonatorum
Ophisthotonus: is a posture taken upon generalized convulsions in
which there is hyperextension of back muscles.
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Treatment
Local debridement and metronidazole to
prevent further toxin production. Antitetanic serum (affects only circulating toxin,
has no effect on fixed toxin). should be given on the grounds of
clinical suspicion alone. Exclude allergy by SC injection first. Diazepam
is used to control the convulsions.
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