infections
Tetanus
Symptoms of Tetanus
Tetanus symptoms usually begin about 5 to 10 days after the injury but may begin up to about 50 days later. Muscle spasmsare the characteristic feature of tetanus. Muscles contract involuntarily (spasm) and become rigid. Tetanus is often called "lockjaw" because the spasms cause the jaw and neck muscles to tighten and lock, making it hard to open the mouth or swallow. The spasms also affect the shoulder, face, abdomen, and limbs. Such spasms may interfere with breathing, sometimes so much that people turn blue. The face may be frozen in a smile with the eyebrows raised. Back muscles contract, making the back, neck, and legs arch backward. Spasms of sphincter muscles can lead to constipation and difficulty urinating. Slight disturbances—such as noise, a draft, or the bed being jarred—can trigger painful muscle spasms throughout the body. Rarely, muscle spasms may be limited to muscle groups near the wound. Such localized tetanus may persist for weeks. occur because tetanus affects the nervous system, including the part that regulates internal body processes, such as how fast the heart beats. People with tetanus may have a rapid heartbeat and a slight fever. They may sweat profusely. Blood pressure may go up and down. People may inhale (aspirate) the contents of their mouth into their lungs, resulting in Aspiration Pneumonia and Chemical Pneumonitis . People may be restless and irritable. However, even when the illness is severe, people usually remain fully conscious. In newborns, tetanus usually affects the whole body and is frequently fatal. In the first 2 weeks of life, the infant has spasms and feeds poorly. Children who survive may be deaf. Promptly and thoroughly cleaning dirty wounds can help prevent tetanus. 