TETANUS:

CAUSE:

A spore forming bacteria called CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI causes tetanus.

 

SYMPTOMS:

• Pain full and violent contractions of body muscles.

• Lock jaw.

SOURCES:

• All kinds of injuries, burns and wounds.

• Umbilical cords/ stumps of newborn babies.

• Surgical sutures.

• Soil.

• Refuse of animals.

• Rusty metals like nails.

PROCESS:

• The spores enter through the different sources, eg. Wounds, burns etc.

• If the conditions are favorable, then these spores activate and start producing a TOXIN.

• The toxin affects the central nervous system and produce painful and violent contractions of the muscles.

• When muscles of the jaw are affected, the mouth cannot be opened and the patient is said to have lockjaw and results death from respiratory failure.

CONTROL/ PRECAUTIONS:

• Immunization with the vaccine controls tetanus.

• Vaccine stimulates the body to produce antitoxin to neutralize toxin.

• Penicillin is given to stop the growth of the bacteria and the production of toxin.