Tetanus (Lockjaw)

Tetanus (Lockjaw)

What Is Tetanus?

How Common Is It?

Is Tetanus Contagious?

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Infection?

How Do Doctors Make the Diagnosis?

What Is the Treatment for Tetanus?

How Long Does Tetanus Last?

What Are the Complications?

Can Tetanus Be Prevented?

Resources

Tetanus (TET-nus) is a serious bacterial infection that affects the body’s central nervous system*. Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, can lead to muscle rigidity, convulsions*, and death.

*central nervous system

(SEN-trul NER-vus SIS-tem) is the part of the nervous system that includes the brain and spinal cord.

*convulsions

(kon-VUL-shuns), also called seizures, are involuntary muscle contractions caused by electrical discharges within the brain and are usually accompanied by changes in consciousness.

KEYWORDS

for searching the Internet and other reference sources

Clostridium tetanl

Lockjaw

Tetanospasmin

Trismus

What Is Tetanus?

Tetanus is a disease caused by infection with Clostridium tetani (klos-TRIH-dee-um teh-TAH-nye) bacteria, which are found all over the world in soil, dust, and some animal feces (FEE-seez, or bowel movements) and even on human skin. The bacteria can enter the body through any type of wound, such as a scratch or deep cut. Infection begins after bacterial spores* have moved deep within the body and become active. Clostridium tetani bacteria are anaerobic (ah-nuh-RO-bik), meaning that they grow best in places with very little oxygen—so the deeper they travel into the body, the better their chances to survive.

*spores

are a temporarily inactive form of a germ enclosed in a protective shell.

Once tetanus spores become active, the bacteria begin producing a toxin (a poisonous substance) called tetanospasmin (teh-tuh-no-SPAZ-min), which attaches to the nerves around the area of the wound. The tetanus toxin also can spread and attach to the ends of nerves of the spinal cord and at neuromuscular junctions (where nerves meet muscles). The toxin blocks the release of a neurotransmitter (nur-o-trans-MIH-ter), a chemical that carries a signal from nerves to other nerves or muscles. This affects the messages that the muscles receive, resulting in severe muscle spasms* that can be powerful enough to tear muscles apart.

*spasms

(SPAH-zumz) are involuntary muscular tightenings or contractions.

There are three types of tetanus infection. Local tetanus is limited to the area of the wound; cephalic (seh-FAH-lik) tetanus is an uncommon form that affects the nerves of the face after a head injury or, rarely, a long-lasting ear infection; and generalized tetanus affects much of the body and accounts for the majority of tetanus cases. Neonatal tetanus is a generalized form of the infection that occurs in newborns. It is caused by bacteria contaminating the stump of the umbilical cord*, particularly if the cord has been cut with an instrument that has not been sterilized*.

*umbilical

(um-BIH-lih-kul) cord is the flexible cord that connects a baby to the placenta, the organ that unites the unborn child to the mother’s uterus, the organ in which the baby develops.

*sterilize

(STAIR-uh-lyze) is to eliminate all live bacteria or microorgranisms from something, usually through the use of heat, pressure, chemicals, or other antimicrobial agents.

How Common Is It?

Tetanus occurs around the world but is found frequently in densely populated areas that have hot, damp climates. The disease is rare in the United States, primarily because of vaccination. Nearly all reported cases of tetanus occur in people who have never been vaccinated or who have not had a booster shot in the previous 10 years. Neonatal tetanus infection is rare in developed countries because of improved surgical techniques, but there are hundreds of thousands of deaths from tetanus annually worldwide, mostly in developing countries. Intravenous* drug abusers, such as people who inject heroin, are at a higher risk of contracting the disease.

*intravenous

(in-tra-VEE-nus), or IV, means within or through a vein. For example, medications, fluid, or other substances can be given through a needle or soft tube inserted through the skin’s surface directly into a vein.

Is Tetanus Contagious?

Tetanus is not spread from person to person. Bacterial spores must enter a wound for the infection to spread.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Infection?

Symptoms of tetanus appear from 3 to 21 days or longer after infection, but usually they develop within 7 days. In about 50 percent of generalized cases of tetanus, the first sign is trismus, or stiffness in the jaw muscles (also known as lockjaw), followed by a stiff neck, shoulder, or back; trouble swallowing; and fever. Spasms can soon spread to the abdominal* muscles, upper arms, and thighs. Other symptoms include sweating, high blood pressure, and periods of rapid heartbeat. The closer the infection is to the central nervous system, the sooner the symptoms appear. The earlier the symptoms begin to appear, the greater the risk of death.

*abdominal

(ab-DAH-mih-nul) refers to the area of the body below the ribs and above the hips that contains the stomach, intestines, and other organs.

How Do Doctors Make the Diagnosis?

The diagnosis is made based on the presence of symptoms and the patient’s history (for example, getting a wound by stepping on a soil-contaminated nail). Laboratory tests are not useful in determining whether a patient has tetanus. A culture* of the wound can be done, but these cultures generally do not show the bacteria.

*culture

(KUL-chur) is a test in which a sample of fluid or tissue from the body is placed in a dish containing material that supports the growth of certain organisms. Typically, within days the organisms will grow and can be identified.

What Is the Treatment for Tetanus?

Typically, tetanus infection is treated in a hospital. Treatment begins with giving the patient tetanus immune globulin* to control or reverse the effects of toxin that has not yet attached itself to nerve endings. Penicillin or other antibiotics also may be given to kill the bacteria. Cleaning the wound and removing dead tissue, in some cases by surgery, is important in ridding the body of invading bacteria. Muscle spasms can be treated with muscle relaxants. Respiratory system* support, provided by a respirator*, may be necessary to help maintain breathing if the respiratory muscles have been affected.

*immune globulin

(ih-MYOON GLAH-byoo-lin), also called gamma globulin, is the protein material that contains antibodies.

*respiratory system ,

or respiratory tract, includes the nose, mouth, throat, and lungs. It is the pathway through which air and gases are transported down into the lungs and back out of the body.

*respirator

is a machine that helps people breathe when they are unable to breathe adequately on their own.

How Long Does Tetanus Last?

Symptoms may last 3 to 4 weeks, although complete recovery can take several months. Tetanus can be mild, but in most cases the illness is severe and death may occur even after treatment has begun. Tetanus usually requires a long stay in the intensive care unit of the hospital.

What Are the Complications?

Complications of the illness include spasms of the vocal cords and the muscles that control breathing, which can lead to difficulty breathing; fractures in the long bones or the spine from severe muscle spasms and convulsions; high blood pressure; abnormal heart rhythm; secondary infections, such as sepsis* and pneumonia (inflammation of the lung); a blood clot* in the lungs; and death. In the United States, 11 percent of reported tetanus cases are fatal. Unvaccinated children and the elderly are at greater risk of dying if they become infected with tetanus bacteria.

*sepsis

is a potentially serious spreading of infection, usually bacterial, through the bloodstream and body.

*blood clot

is a thickening of the blood into a jelly-like substance that helps stop bleeding. Clotting of the blood within a blood vessel can lead to blockage of blood flow.

Can Tetanus Be Prevented?

Immunization is the best means of preventing tetanus. The vaccination usually is given in combination with other vaccines: the DTaP (diphtheria*/tetanus/acellular pertussis*) form for children and the Td (tetanus/diphtheria) form for adults. A series of shots is required to develop immunity to tetanus toxin, followed by booster shots every 10 years. In some cases of unclean wounds, a booster will be given after the injury to help prevent tetanus.

*diphtheria

(dif-THEER-e-uh) is an infection of the lining of the upper respiratory tract (the nose and throat). It is a serious disease that can cause breathing difficulty and other complications, including death.

*pertussis

(per-TUH-sis) is a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract that causes severe coughing.

See also

Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Vaccination (Immunization)

Resources

Organization

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333. The CDC provides fact sheets and other information on tetanus at its website.

Telephone 800-311-3435 http://www.cdc.gov

Website

KidsHealth.org. KidsHealth is a website created by the medical experts of the Nemours Foundation and is devoted to issues of children’s health. It contains articles on a variety of health topics, including tetanus.

http://www.KidsHealth.org