Chapter 23, Problem 1CT

Summary Introduction

To review:

The incidence of tetanus at various ages in developing country differ from developed countries.

Introduction:

Tetanus is an infection that is caused by the bacterial organism, Clostridium tetani, found in manure, dust, and soil. The bacteria enter through the cut in the skin or wound in the body. This disease is also commonly known as “lockjaw” because it begins with the contraction of the muscles of the jaw. It is characterized by painfulcramps in muscles and spreads to the rest of the body parts. The symptoms are seen after a week from infection, such as a headache, sweating, fever, difficulty in swallowing, fast heart rate, breathing problem because of contraction of muscles, unbearable pain, feeling restless, and sometimes fracture of bones.