BABY AND CHILDHOOD INFECTIOUS DISEASES: TETANUS

May
08
2009

Posted by: admin in Categories: General health.
Using Tags: General health

Tetanus is a disease too terrible to think about. It can affect anybody, and this includes the newborn. In fact, of the million or more cases of tetanus deaths that are reputed to occur world-wide each year, about half are of infants under the age of 12 months. Inadequate hygiene and lack of specific protection are the main reasons.

The disease is produced by an organism called Clostridium tetani. This organism can produce spores which are very resistant and can live for a long period of time. They are a normal inhabitant of the bowel, and for this reason are very common in manure. That’s why persons who enjoy gardening are at special risk. Once it starts to multiply, the germ produces an extremely powerful toxin which may be rapidly fatal. Many cases occur from simple puncture wounds in which germs have been inserted. Often the wound is so small that the person is unaware of it happening. Babies in the Third World are at special risk, for their umbilical cord is a wonderful spot for the germs to dwell and multiply.

The incubation period varies from five days to five weeks. Onset of symptoms may be heralded by crampy pains in the muscles, commonly of the back or abdomen. The patient shows restlessness, irritability and difficulty in swallowing. There may be early convulsions. Gradually, the muscle stiffness and tension increases. The muscles of the jaw often are affected early. They contract, giving the false impression the patient is grinning. As time passes, swallowing becomes more and more difficult, wild tetanic spasms of the muscles occur, with the head and back retracting, and intense pain is felt. Fists and jaws clench.

The course of the disease is terrible and the agony experienced is major and terrifying. Parents should know of these symptoms in detail to understand the urgent need to prevent this awful disease from developing in their own offspring.

Tetanus is a totally preventable disease. In fact, the protection afforded by adequate immunization is remarkable. This is usually started when the baby is two months old. (Refer to the childhood immunization schedule given earlier in this chapter.) The procedure is a very simple one, but the beneficial effects are enormous.

It can totally prevent tetanus, and is probably the most amazing and complete cover against disaster that is currently available in this country. It is wise to continue with regular updating booster shots, ideally throughout life. Therefore following the initial course started at two months, boosters are offered at 18 months, then pre-school and ideally each 5-10 years thenceforth for the rest of a person’s life. If a dirty wound occurs meanwhile, most doctors suggest an immediate booster at that moment also, just to be doubly sure.

There are about twenty cases of tetanus annually in Australia. This is fairly high when it is considered that in Great Britain, a country with a population four times that of Australia, they also have about twenty cases annually.

Treatment

Treatment of tetanus, of course, is basically to prevent it by sensible immunization. After any wound that is potentially dirty—and this may include simple gardening injuries—a check with the doctor is advised to ascertain whether a booster shot is necessary, or other protective given, irrespective of the age of the child.

Tetanus itself requires particularly skilful treatment, ideally in the intensive care ward of a major hospital which has access to full nursing and medical facilities. At the first sign of any of the symptoms after an accident, irrespective of how minor, medical attention by the doctor is strongly advised.