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Tetanus is a noncommunicable disease, meaning that it cannot be passed directly from one
person to another. Tetanus causes convulsive muscle spasms and rigidity that can lead to respiratory
paralysis and death. It is sometimes called "lockjaw" because one of the most common symptoms is a
stiff jaw that cannot be opened. Sometimes tetanus is localized, that is; it affects only the part of the
body where the infection began. However, in almost all reported cases, tetanus spreads to the entire
body.
Tetanus is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani, whose spores (the dormant form)
are found in soil, street dust, and animal feces. The bacteria enter the body through cuts and abrasions
but will multiply only in an environment that is anaerobic, or oxygen-free. Deep puncture wounds and
wounds with a lot of dead tissue provide an oxygen-free environment for the bacteria to grow. As C.
tetani grows, it excretes a highly poisonous toxin called tetanospasmin into the bloodstream, spreading
it throughout the nervous system. The infection is usually transmitted through deep puncture wounds
or through cuts or scratches that are not cleaned well. Tetanus toxin affects the nerve endings, causing
a continuous stimulation of the muscles. Initial symptoms may include restlessness, irritability, a stiff
neck, and difficulty swallowing.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fatigue and muscular
weakness, especially in the face and neck that results from a breakdown in the normal communication
between nerves and muscles caused by the deficiency of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular (nerve-
muscle) junctions. MG is the most common primary disorder of neuromuscular transmission. MG is a
chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the
skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body. The hallmark of this disease is muscle weakness that increases
during periods of activity and improves after periods of rest. Muscles that control eye and eyelid
movements, facial expression, chewing, talking, and swallowing are often, but not always, involved.
The muscles that control breathing and neck and limb movements may also be affected.
References:
http://www.tox.si/novice/zadnja-novice/92-tetanus-toxin-vs-botulinum-toxin-neurotoxins-produced-by-
bacterias-clostridium-tetani-and-clostrid
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm
http://iai.asm.org/content/80/5/1662.full
http://www.mda.org.nz/media/1244/Myasthenia%20Gravis%20April10.pdf
http://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/diseases-and-conditions/pathology/botulism
http://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/diseases-and-conditions/pathology/tetanus
http://www.encyclopedia.com/medicine/diseases-and-conditions/pathology/myasthenia-gravis