Tetanus symptoms

When it comes to tetanus, I believe many people will be very scared, because tetanus is a disease with a very high mortality rate. Moreover, it is even more lethal to people with low resistance such as drug addicts and newborns. Therefore, if tetanus occurs, it is necessary to understand the symptoms of tetanus in time, and then identify and respond in time to stay away from the trouble of tetanus.

Of course, in addition to understanding the symptoms of tetanus in our daily lives, the most important thing is to understand how to deal with tetanus when it occurs. Only by choosing the right method can we greatly reduce the complications caused by tetanus and give the body a chance to truly recover and stay away from disease.

Prodromal symptoms include general fatigue, dizziness, headache, chewing weakness, local muscle tightness, pulling pain, hyperreflexia, etc.

The typical symptoms are paroxysmal severe spasms based on tonic muscle contraction (muscle rigidity and stiffness). Usually the first muscle groups affected are the chewing muscles, followed by the facial expression muscles, neck, back, abdomen, limb muscles, and finally the diaphragm.

The corresponding signs are: difficulty opening the mouth (clenched teeth), frowning, drooping corners of the mouth, a "bitter smile", neck stiffness, and head tilted back; when the back and abdominal muscles contract at the same time, because the back muscles are stronger, the trunk is twisted into a bow, combined with spasmodic postures such as flexed knees, bent elbows, and half-clenched fists of the neck and limbs, forming "opisthotonos" or "lateral opisthotonos"; after the diaphragm is affected, the face and lips become cyanotic, ventilation is difficult, and respiratory arrest may occur during an attack.

The above-mentioned attacks can be triggered by slight stimulation, such as light, sound, touch, drinking water, etc. The intervals between attacks vary in length, and frequent attacks often indicate a serious condition. During an attack, the patient is conscious and looks painful, and each attack lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. Severe muscle spasms can cause muscle rupture or even fractures. Bladder sphincter spasm can cause urinary retention. Sustained spasm of the respiratory muscles and diaphragm can cause respiratory arrest. The causes of death of patients are mostly asphyxiation, heart failure or lung complications.

The course of the disease is generally 3 to 4 weeks. If treated actively and without special complications, the severity of the attack can gradually decrease, and the average remission period is about 1 week. However, muscle tension and hyperreflexia may continue for a period of time; some mental symptoms may also appear during the recovery period, such as hallucinations, speech and movement disorders, but most of them can recover on their own.

A small number of patients may only show persistent muscle stiffness in the injured area, which may last for weeks or months and the prognosis is good. When a newborn suffers from this disease, the symptoms are atypical due to their weak muscles. They are manifested as inability to cry or suckle, little activity, and weak or difficult breathing.

Of course, after we understand the symptoms of tetanus, we also need to know which factors in daily life can cause tetanus, and then prevent tetanus in time in daily life. In this way, we will not be troubled by tetanus. Keeping our bodies healthy and staying away from tetanus is the key to protecting lives. Of course, if you encounter tetanus, the correct approach is to seek medical attention immediately.