{"id":533,"date":"2022-05-24T16:49:50","date_gmt":"2022-05-24T12:49:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gh.ge\/en\/disease\/tetanus\/"},"modified":"2022-05-24T16:49:50","modified_gmt":"2022-05-24T12:49:50","slug":"tetanus","status":"publish","type":"disease","link":"https:\/\/gh.ge\/en\/disease\/tetanus\/","title":{"rendered":"Tetanus"},"content":{"rendered":"

DEFINITION<\/h2>\n

Tetanus is a serious bacterial disease that affects your nervous system, leading to painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. Tetanus can interfere with your ability to breathe and, ultimately, threaten your life. Tetanus is commonly known as “lockjaw.” <\/p>\n

Thanks to the tetanus vaccine, cases of tetanus are rare in the United States and the developed world. The incidence of tetanus is much higher in less developed countries. Around a million cases occur worldwide each year. <\/p>\n

There’s no cure for tetanus. Treatment focuses on managing complications until the effects of the tetanus toxin resolve. Fatality is highest in individuals who haven’t been immunized and in older adults with inadequate immunization.<\/p>\n

CAUSES<\/h2>\n

The bacteria that cause tetanus, Clostridium tetani, are found in soil, dust and animal feces. When they enter a deep flesh wound, spores of the bacteria may produce a powerful toxin, tetanospasmin, which actively impairs your motor neurons, nerves that control your muscles. The effect of the toxin on your motor neurons can cause muscle stiffness and spasms — the major signs of tetanus.<\/p>\n

SYMPTOMS<\/h2>\n

Signs and symptoms of tetanus may appear anytime from a few days to several weeks after tetanus bacteria enter your body through a wound. The average incubation period is seven to eight days. <\/p>\n

Common signs and symptoms of tetanus, in order of appearance, are: <\/p>\n

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