Tetanus Disease

Tetanus Disease

 

General

 

  • Enters body through a wound
  • Disseminated via blood and lymphatics
  • Toxins act on sites in CNS

-         Interferes with release of neurotransmitters, blocking inhibitor impulses

 

Clinical features

 

  • Incubation period 8 days (range, 3-21 days)
  • 3 clinical forms: local (uncommon), cephalic (rare), generalized (most common)
  • Generalized tetanus: lockjaw, difficulty swallowing, muscle rigidity, spasms
  • Spasms continue for 3-4 wks, and complete recovery may take months

 

* A form of generalized tetanus, neonatal tetanus, affects newborn infants

  • Infants born without protective passive immunity
  • High fatality rate without therapy
  • Estimated 270,000 deaths worldwide in 1998. Very rare though in the U.S.

 

Complications

 

  • Laryngospasms- spasms of vocal cords, interference with brething
  • Fractures- long bones and spine fractures due to muscle spasms and seizures
  • Other- hypertension, coma, nosocomial infections, pulmonary embolism, aspiration pneumonia
  • Death- 30%, higher at extremes of age

 

Treatment

 

  • After infection, Tetanus Immune Globulin (TIG) is used
  • Tetanus disease does not result in tetanus immunity
  • Rarely have cases of tetanus occurred in persons with documented primary series of tetanus toxoid
  • Tetanus toxoid given with diptheria toxoid as DTap, DT, or Td

 
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This web site was developed by undergraduate students at Brown University as a project for a course in vaccine development (Bio 160). An effort has been made to present information on the prevalent opinions available at this time.  References to published articles and acknowledgements of other sources are cited in the text.  The authors of this web site are not certified medical professionals.  Biomedical research and clinical medicine are constantly evolving fields, thus it is possible that significant advances in research and treatments will come into existence following posting of this web site.