Prevention

Preventions for tetanus include:

Vaccination:

The DTaP
vaccine is a series of five shots
given to children between the
ages of 2 months to 4-6 years.

Booster
vaccinations can be given to
adults under the age of 65, but
the preferable approach is
receiving vaccinations during
childhood.
Simple Caution of Flesh
Wounds: The best way to prevent
tetanus is to heed flesh wounds and
properly sterilize them to prevent
not only tetanus, but other serious
infections as well.
Any wound should be cleaned well as soon
as possible, especially if it is contaminated
with dirt, to reduce the risk of infection
with the bacteria that cause tetanus
(SparkPeople).

Works Cited
"Tetanus Causes, Symptoms,
Treatment - Tetanus Prognosis
- EMedicineHealth."
EMedicineHealth. WebMD
Inc., n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.
"Tetanus." Healthline. Healthline
Networks Inc., n.d. Web. 22
Jan. 2015.
"Tetanus." MayoClinic. Mayo
Foundation for Medical
Education and Research, n.d.
Web. 22 Jan. 2015.
"Tetanus - Prognosis."
SparkPeople. SparkPeople Inc.,
n.d. Web. 22 Jan. 2015.

Tetanus
: A serious bacterial disease that
affects your nervous system,
leading to painful muscle
contractions, particularly of
your jaw and neck muscles
(MayoClinic).
Approximately 10 to 20 percent of
tetanus infections are fatal (CDC).

Autumn Stevens Health Disease Project

Health Disease Research Brochure
Autumn Stevens

Anatomy

Diagnosis

Treatments
(including alternative)

When a bacteria called

Clostridium tetani enters a deep
flesh wound, it releases a toxin,
tetanospasmin, which actively
impairs your motor neurons
(MayoClinic).

A physical examination will be conducted

to test for muscle stiffness and painful
spasms (Healthline).
Oftentime, your doctor will also review
your immunization history for any past
tetanus vaccinations.
the more overdue one is for a tetanus
vaccination, the higher risk they have of getting
tetanus

Prognosis
Death by tetanus is usually due
to respiratory failure or disturbance
of heart rhythm (eMedicineHealth)

This infection results in

painful muscle spasms
throughout the body--especially
in the jaw, hence the moniker
lockjaw.

Severity of the symptoms

determines fatality probability
(SparkPeople)
Approximately 10 to 20
percent of tetanus infections are fatal
(CDC).

Cleaning the flesh wound

properly where the bacteria
entered is essential!
1. Control
bleeding
2. Keep
wound clean
3. Use
antibiotics
4. Cover
wound
5. Change
dressing
Medications:

Antitoxin to
neutralize the toxins

Antibiotics to

kill the original bacterial infection

Vaccine to
prevent recurring infections

Sedatives to
relax muscles and relieve pain from
spasms

Intensive therapy to rebuild

and rehabilitate the affected
muscles.

Treatments for severe cases of tetanus may

include the need for a ventilator in order to
relax affected muscles, but maintain breathing
function (Healthline).