Tetanus

Tetanus is an acute, often-fatal disease of the nervous system that is caused by nerve toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani.

· Headache

· Jaw cramping

· Sudden, involuntary muscle tightening – often in the stomach (muscle spasms)

· Painful muscle stiffness all over the body

· Trouble swallowing

· Jerking or staring (seizures)

· Fever and sweating

· High blood pressure and fast heart rate

· Antibiotics

· Bed rest with a calm environment (dim light, reduced noise, and stable temperature)

· Medicine to reverse the poison (tetanus immune globulin)

· Muscle relaxers, such as diazepam

· Sedatives

· Surgery to clean the wound and remove the source of the poison (debridement)

· Breathing support