A disease of the nervous
system caused by a toxic substance produced by the bacterium Clostridium
tetani.
Symptoms include painful
muscle spasms, initially of the muscles of the neck and jaw (lock jaw) and later
of the muscles of the trunk.
This is a very serious disease
and is frequently fatal, particularly in infants and the
elderly.
Diagnosis is made by clinical
examination.
Bacteria causing tetanus are
found in soil or human or animal faeces. The bacteria contaminate puncture
wounds, cuts or burns. The initial wound is often quite trivial and may not have
received medical attention.
Incubation period
1 day to several months, with
an average of 10 days.
Infectious period
Person-to-person spread does
not occur.
Control of spread
- Exclusion from work is not
necessary.
- Protection against tetanus is
provided by tetanus vaccine. Tetanus vaccine is one of the three components of
triple antigen vaccine routinely administered to children at 2, 4 and 6 months
of age, with booster doses at 18 months and 4 to 5 years of age. A further
booster dose at age 10 to 16 years and maintenance of immunity in adults with
booster doses at 10 yearly intervals is recommended.
- After injury, particularly if
a wound is deep, dirty or contains a foreign object (eg, wood splinter), the
wound should be cleaned immediately with disinfectant and medical advice sought
regarding the need for further treatment to prevent
tetanus.
Treatment
Treatment requires the
administration of antitoxin, antibiotics, surgical removal of the infected area
and often prolonged treatment in the intensive care unit of a
hospital.
Tetanus is a notifiable
disease.
Adapted with permission from
"You’ve got What?" Department of Human Services, South Australia.