Tetanus due to being subjective with small wounds

The Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases has just admitted patient NVK, 52 years old, residing in Quang Chau commune, Hung Yen. The patient was transferred from Hung Yen General Hospital with a diagnosis of tetanus.

Through prehistoric exploitation, it is known that in early September, due to the impact of storm Yagi, water from upstream poured down, causing the locality where Mr. NVK lives in Quang Chau Commune (Hung Yen City) to be flooded.

Mr. K. and other people participated in building a flood protection wall. During the construction process, he had a minor accident on the instep of his right foot due to a brick falling on his foot. Mr. K. treated and bandaged the wound himself and did not get a tetanus shot. 6 days later, Mr. K had difficulty opening his mouth, difficulty swallowing, and a hard stomach.

On September 16, 2024, Mr. K. went to Hung Yen General Hospital for examination and treatment with a diagnosis of tetanus. However, his condition did not improve. On September 23, 2024, Mr. K. was transferred to the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment with a diagnosis of tetanus in a state of uncontrolled muscle hypertonia, stiff mouth, and could only open 1.5 cm. The wound on the instep of Mr. K.'s right foot was small, 0.5 cm in size, with a dry mouth, crusted, and no swelling or pus.

The cause of tetanus is often due to scratches and wounds coming into direct contact with the tetanus bacillus Clostridium tetani. Bacteria enter the wounds and scratches and develop into an infection that causes tetanus (Illustration).

Doctor Truong Tu The Bao, Emergency Department, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said that tetanus is an acute infectious disease with a high mortality rate caused by exotoxin of tetanus bacilli.

The cause of tetanus is often due to scratches and wounds coming into direct contact with tetanus bacilli Clostridium tetani found in soil, sand, dust, cow, horse and poultry manure, sewers, unsterilized surgical instruments..., penetrating into wounds, scratches develop into an infection causing tetanus...

The incubation period for tetanus is usually 3 to 21 days. It can range from 1 day to several months, depending on the nature, size, and location of the wound.

The average incubation period is about 10 days. Most cases appear within 14 days. In general, more contaminated wounds have a shorter incubation period and more severe disease, with a worse prognosis.

Dr. Bao shared that tetanus treatment takes at least a few weeks. Patients are injected with tetanus antitoxin to treat the toxins in the blood. The toxins that attach to nerve cells must be eliminated by the body itself.

Therefore, people with wounds that are frequently exposed to dirty environments such as mud, dirty water, livestock farming environments, etc. should get a tetanus vaccination every 5 years because tetanus bacteria will incubate in the wounds and progress to disease.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in the late 20th century, approximately 500,000 children died each year from neonatal tetanus in developing countries.

According to WHO, the overall mortality rate from tetanus can range from 10 to 90% of all cases, highest in young children and the elderly.

According to Dr. Nguyen Tuan Hai, Safpo/Potec Vaccination System, when there is a wound on the body, it is necessary to clean it, disinfect it, leave the wound open, do not let the wound be covered to create a tunnel, and do not apply anything to the wound to avoid infection.

Vaccination is an effective measure to prevent complications caused by tetanus (in the photo, people are getting vaccinated against tetanus at the Safpo/Potec Vaccination System).

If you are scratched, stabbed by nails, iron, sand, dirt, etc., you need to clean the wound immediately, then go to the hospital for examination and treatment to prevent tetanus. Keep the wound clean to avoid infection and prevent necrosis...

Everyone can avoid the health risks of tetanus by doing something very easy and simple: getting vaccinated.

Tetanus vaccination is recommended for all infants, children, adolescents and adults/older adults. The basic course consists of 3 – 4 doses depending on country recommendations followed by a booster every 10 years.

In children, tetanus vaccine is used as a combination vaccine to help prevent other diseases included in the vaccine to reduce the number of injections and reduce pain for children. It is important that children receive the full course of tetanus vaccine on time to maintain immunity against the disease.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/mac-uon-van-vi-chu-quan-voi-vet-thuong-nho-d225880.html