If tetanus does develop, seek hospital treatment immediately. We suggest a treatment duration of 7 to 10 days. Initiate Medical experts recommend a single dose of human TIG for treatment of persons with tetanus. Laboratory tests generally aren't helpful for diagnosing tetanus.There's no cure for tetanus. Muscle relaxants and sedatives may be required.
Characteristic symptoms of tetanus are painful muscular contractions, primarily of the masseter and neck muscles and secondarily of trunk muscles. If you've previously been vaccinated, your body should quickly make the needed antibodies to protect you against tetanus.If you have a minor wound, these steps will help prevent tetanus:Certain ingredients in some ointments can cause a mild rash in some people.
Clostridium tetani (C. tetani) spores usually enter the body through a wound or breach in the skin. Published 16 March 2013 Last updated 30 July 2019 — see all updates. Doctors diagnose tetanus based on a physical exam, medical and immunization history, and the signs and symptoms of muscle spasms, stiffness and pain.
Tetanus is a medical emergency requiring: Care in the hospital. In general, the further the injury site is from the central nervous system, the longer the incubation period. The risk of death from tetanus is highest among people 65 years old or older.Diabetes, a history of immunosuppression, and intravenous drug use may be risk factors for tetanus.
Depending on the severity of disease, endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy and mechanically assisted respiration may be lifesaving. In the presence of anaerobic conditions, the spores germinate.
However, experts recommend 500 international units (IU), which appears to be as effective as higher doses ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 IU and causes less discomfort.Clinicians must administer available preparations intramuscularly; TIG preparations available in the United States are not licensed or formulated for intrathecal or intravenous use.Some medical experts recommend infiltration of part of the dose locally around the wound (see If TIG is not available, clinicians can use IGIV at a dose of 200 to 400 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).
Vaccination and good wound care are important to help prevent tetanus infection. If your wound is severe or you or your child has symptoms of tetanus infection, seek emergency care.If possible, let your doctor know the following information:If seeking care for an infant other than your own, let the doctor know the mother's country of origin, her immune status and how long she's been in the United States.For tetanus, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:If a wound is obvious, your doctor will inspect it. Clinicians should use sedation and muscle relaxant drugs as indicated to control muscle spasms. Get medical attention if the wound is deep and dirty, particularly if you're unsure of when you were last vaccinated.
Researchers have not established the optimal therapeutic dose. Like localized tetanus, cephalic tetanus can progress to the generalized form.If TIG is unavailable, clinicians can use Immune Globulin Intravenous (IGIV).Clinicians should maintain a patent airway.
This includes earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis.However, you can minimize the risk of tetanus among your patients who are disaster survivors and emergency responders by following Most reported cases occur in adults.
However, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved IGIV for this use.
Intravenous drug users accounted for 7% of cases from 2009 through 2017.In most settings, a disaster (e.g., earthquake, hurricane, flood, tsunami) does not increase the risk for tetanus.
Although localized tetanus often occurs in people with partial immunity and is usually mild, progression to generalized tetanus can occur.The rarest form, cephalic tetanus, is associated with lesions of the head or face and may also be associated with otitis media. This involves removing dirt, foreign objects and dead tissue from the wound.If you have a severe tetanus infection, you'll often need to stay in an intensive care setting.
The person will immediately receive an injection of immune globulin and a tetanus shot. The bacteria produce very potent toxins, most of which the blood stream and lymphatic system disseminate through the body. © 1998-2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).
Nervous system abnormalities, as well as a variety of complications related to severe spasm and prolonged hospitalization, can accompany generalized tetanus. Drugs to control muscle spasms. See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Doctors can also use a medicine to help prevent tetanus in cases where someone is seriously hurt and doesn’t have protection from tetanus vaccines.
This includes wound care, a course of antibiotics, and an injection of tetanus antitoxin.
Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Trismus, or lockjaw, is a common sign of tetanus (see generalized tetanus under The incubation period ranges from 3 to 21 days, averaging about 10 days. The clinical course of generalized tetanus is variable and depends on theEven with modern intensive care, generalized tetanus is associated with death rates of 10% to 20%.Localized tetanus is an unusual form of the disease consisting of muscle spasms in a confined area close to the site of the injury. Metronidazole (500 mg intravenously [IV] every six to eight hours) is the preferred treatment for tetanus, but penicillin G (2 to 4 million units IV every four to six hours) is a safe and effective alternative [ 13 ]. Other signs may follow “lockjaw.” These can include painful spasms in other muscle groups in the neck, trunk, and extremities and generalized, seizure-like activity or convulsions in severe cases.