Afraid of tetanus? Let's talk about it simply!

You too have heard at home since childhood, "Son, if you step on a rusty nail like that, you will get a boil, you need to be careful." So, almost all of us think that boils are caused by rust. But is that really the story? What kind of disease is this boil? How dangerous is it? Today, we will talk about all this in a simple way that you can understand.

What exactly is tetanus?

Simply put, tetanus is a dangerous disease that affects our nervous system. It is caused by a bacteria called Clostridium tetani . The spores of this bacteria can be found almost anywhere in the environment. They are especially common in soil, household dust, animal feces , and on the surfaces of objects such as rusty nails.

Imagine that you have a cut on your skin. If these bacterial spores enter the body through that cut, especially in a deep cut with little oxygen, these spores activate and become bacteria, producing a dangerous toxin. We call this toxin ``tetanospasmin.''

This poison enters the bloodstream, travels along the nerves, and directly affects our spinal cord. What happens there is that it blocks the signals that tell our muscles to relax. The result is that the muscles become tight, stiff, and the jaw initially locks. This is what we call `lockjaw`. We cannot open our mouth or swallow. If this condition is not controlled, it can spread throughout the body and even with hospital treatment , there can be a mortality rate of 10% - 20% .

In countries like ours, this disease has now been largely controlled thanks to vaccination programs for young children. However, even if you get vaccinated when you are young, the protection it provides diminishes over time. So it is very important for us all to be aware of this.

What are the causes of acne?

Remember, the rash is not caused by the rust , but by the bacteria that are common in places where rust is present. There are several ways that this bacteria can enter the body.

Who is at higher risk?

Although anyone who has not received the measles vaccine correctly is at risk, some people are at greater risk.

• People with weakened immune systems (e.g., those taking cancer medication)
• Diabetics
• People who inject drugs using dirty needles
• People over 70 years of age (due to reduced immunity from the vaccine)

What are the symptoms of this dangerous disease?

The first and most common symptom of snoring is a `lockjaw` , which means the inability to open the mouth. In addition, these symptoms may also occur.

• Difficulty swallowing : Tightness in the neck muscles makes it difficult to swallow food and drink.
• Muscle twitching: Muscles in the arms, legs, stomach, and back suddenly tighten and feel like they're twisting for no apparent reason. These are very painful.
• Body stiffness: The entire body may feel stiff, like a plank.
• Seizures : Seizures may occur as the disease progresses.
• Other symptoms: headache, fever, excessive sweating, changes in blood pressure and heart rate.

These muscle spasms are very sensitive. Even a slight noise, light, or someone touching the body can trigger this painful condition. At this time, the neck and back are arched backward, the legs are extended, the arms are pressed against the body, and the hands are clenched. This condition can last for several minutes.

Symptoms usually appear between 3 and 21 days after the injury. It may take months to fully recover.

What are the treatments for eczema?

Diarrhea is not an illness that can be treated at home. It must be hospitalized and treated in an intensive care unit.

The doctor will confirm the diagnosis by examining your symptoms and vaccination history. There is no specific blood test for this. The following treatments are used:

1. Treat the wound: This is very important. The wound should be thoroughly cleaned and any dirt, debris, and dead tissue removed (debridement). If this is not done, the bacteria will continue to produce toxins.

2. Tetanus Immune Globulin (TIG): This is a medicine that quickly provides the body with the antibodies needed to neutralize the toxin.

3. Antibiotics: Drugs like metronidazole or penicillin are given to kill bacteria in the body.

4. Control of muscle spasms: Painful muscle spasms are controlled by administering medications such as diazepam.

5. Supportive care: This includes helping the patient if they are having difficulty breathing, providing high-calorie nutrition through a tube, and keeping them in a quiet environment away from noise and bright light.

Prevention is the best - get vaccinated!

The best thing to do is to prevent the disease before it occurs. The best and only way to do that is to get the Tetanus vaccine .

• This is also protected by the triple vaccine (`DTaP`) given by the government to young children in our country.
• But most importantly, the protection provided by this vaccine wanes over time. Therefore, it is essential for every adult to receive a booster shot every 10 years .
• If you have a deep, dirty wound, and it has been more than 5 years since your last vaccination, you should definitely see a doctor and get a booster shot. If you don't remember it, tell your doctor that too.

As soon as you get a wound, wash it thoroughly with soap and clean water, and cover it with a clean cloth or plaster. This will go a long way in preventing bacteria from entering.

Tetanus, Tetanus symptoms, Tetanus vaccine, lockjaw, injury, rusty nail