How to Get Rid of Tetanus?
There are two ways to look at this subject and both of them are extremely important. We can deal with how to get rid of tetanus on a permanent basis (eliminating it from our lives altogether) and we can look at the ways to get through a situation involving tetanus. The first idea, eliminating tetanus, has come a long way through the years, especially since the tetanus vaccine was developed. People have continued to get a booster shot on a regular basis, after getting the original vaccine.
In fact, this is a requirement for healthy living, just like vaccinations against other diseases. So, we should be protected if we get that booster shot every five years, and get another if we are injured or cut and don’t remember when we had our last booster shot.
The condition we commonly call “tetanus” is caused by a specific bacteria, clostridium tetani, hence the name. These bacteria can live in the earth for many years, without being exposed to the air (anaerobic). When they are active, such as in the presence of living tissue around a wound, a strong poison is created. The basic effect is on the muscles of the human body.
What if we do have a cut or puncture wound and we notice that there are symptoms of tetanus. This is the second time we need to “get rid of tetanus.” People who are in this situation should see a doctor at once and follow the instructions for getting the toxic substances out of the body. A tetanus shot or booster put antibodies into our systems to battle against the poison.
Steps toward clearing up a potentially threatening situation include cleaning the injured area well. If the doctor decides to do so, he or she can remove part of the tissue around the wounded area to keep the toxic substances from spreading. If these steps are taken immediately, it is possible to avoid the advanced effects of tetanus.
Symptoms of tetanus include muscle cramps and spasm, and general pain in the muscles throughout the body. People suffering from this malady may have a high fever and may develop difficulty breathing and swallowing. These actions are triggered by muscles as well, so they can be affected when tetanus is present. Advanced cases of this condition can lead to extreme contortions of the body that may even dislocate joints or cause damage to other parts of the body. In a few cases, people need medical help to breath! Doctor’s have found that thorough treatment for advanced tetanus can be time-consuming and very uncomfortable for the patient.
In the past, people associated the disease of lockjaw with tetanus. Before doctors developed adequate treatment for the condition, the toxic bacteria paralyzed major muscles of the body, including the muscles of the face. This resulted in the appropriately named condition – lockjaw.
So, while it is possible to stop the advance of tetanus with modern medical techniques, the best way to get rid of tetanus is to take steps to avoid it altogether.
Category: Diseases & Conditions, Health
At the age of 12, I was stricken with Tetanus, at the most advanced stage. In the span of two weeks, my whole body was locked. I was in the hospital in Gafsa, Tunisia for a month. The Doctor misdiagnosed my symptoms. She thought I had Tuberculosis in the bones. I remember fever, sweating, foaming at the mouth; most painfully, incessant body spasms.
Luckily, a local nurse noticed the wound still festering in the bottom of my foot and managed to convince the doctor that I was afflicted with tetanus. The medication was changed and I, miraculously recovered.