What is it? Tetanus aka "Lock Jaw" is an acute, often-fatal disease of the nervous system that is caused by the nerve toxins of a bacteria called Clostridium tetani. Eventually the toxin will get in between the neuromuscular juction (Nerve connections) and strengthin the impulse causing the muscles to spasm. This effect can be localized, or generalized. Meaning that it can affect only the muscles around the infection or it can get in the blood and travel to other muscles in the body. This disease is why it is so important to get a tetanus shot every 10 years and a booster occationally inbetween. Diphtheria and tetanus - for adults
Tetanus is caused when bacteria that live in soil, dust and manure enter the body through a break in the skin. Even a break as small as a pinprick can lead to tetanus infection. Tetanus is rare but can be fatal.
Diphtheria is spread through the coughs and sneezes of an infected person. Around 10 per cent of people exposed to diphtheria die from the disease.
Tetanus can be fatal
Tetanus attacks the nervous system, leading to:
Muscle spasms, which begin in the jaw and neck
Breathing difficulties
Painful convulsions
Abnormal heart rhythms.
Tetanus is rare in Australia, but still occurs in adults who have never been immunised or who have not had their booster immunisation.
Diphtheria causes many problems
Diphtheria infection can lead to:
Difficulty swallowing and breathing 鈥?caused by a membrane that grows in the throat as a result of the infection. This can lead to suffocation.
Paralysis and heart failure 鈥?occurs when a poison produced by the bacteria spreads around the body.
Diphtheria bacteria are found in the mouth, nose and throat.
Adult diphtheria and tetanus (ADT) vaccine
Adults can be immunised against both tetanus and diphtheria with the Adult diphtheria and tetanus (ADT) vaccine.
If you have never been immunised 鈥?adults and children over eight years who have never been immunised should receive three doses of ADT at one to two-month intervals, then two booster doses at 10-yearly intervals.
To maintain immunisation 鈥?once you are fully immunised, you should receive a booster immunisation at 50 years of age.
ADT vaccine contains small amounts of modified (harmless) diphtheria and tetanus toxins, a preservative and a small amount of aluminium salt.
Young children should receive the combined diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio (DTPaIPV) vaccine. The Better Health Channel factsheet 鈥楧iphtheria tetanus pertussis polio 鈥?for children鈥?has more information.
If you suffer an injury
Some injuries can encourage the growth of tetanus organisms. If you suffer a tetanus-prone injury seek immediate advice from your doctor, who may recommend further vaccination.
Types of wounds likely to favor the growth of tetanus organisms include:
Compound fractures
Deep penetrating wounds
Wounds containing foreign bodies
Wounds with extensive tissue damage (such as burns)
Superficial wounds obviously contaminated with soil, dust or horse manure.
Vaccine side effects are usually mild
Side effects of vaccination can include:
Common reactions 鈥?fever, pain, redness and swelling at the site of the injection.
Rare, severe reactions 鈥?brachial neuritis (severe pain in the shoulder and upper arm) or severe allergic reaction.
Reducing fever and soreness after vaccination
You can help prevent injection site soreness and fever by:
Taking paracetamol (like Panadol) 鈥?check the recommended dose.
Not overdressing
Placing a wet cloth over the injection site.
Drink extra fluids.
If you are worried after immunisation, contact your doctor or hospital. WHAT IS TETANUS?
鈥?Tetanus is a serious disease that is caused by bacteria found in dust, soil, and manure
鈥?Tetanus enters the body through many kinds of wounds鈥攆rom a pinprick to a deep wound
鈥?The bacteria live all over the world
鈥?Tetanus is commonly called 鈥渓ockjaw鈥?since it can cause stiffness in the jaw muscles
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
鈥?Symptoms may include:
鈥?Headache
鈥?Stiffness of the jaw (lockjaw)
鈥?Severe muscle spasms
鈥?Sweating
鈥?Fever
鈥?Stiffness of abdominal muscles
鈥?Difficulty swallowing
鈥?Lockjaw is one of the most dangerous symptoms because it can lead to death by suffocation
鈥?Symptoms usually begin about 8 days after infection, but may range in onset from 3 days to 3 weeks
HOW IS TETANUS TREATED?
鈥?Treatment for tetanus may include medications, surgery, and bed rest
鈥?Even if a person recovers from tetanus, a tetanus shot is needed to ensure he or she doesn鈥檛 get it again
DIPHTHERIA:
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that spreads easily and occurs quickly. It mainly affects the nose and throat. Children under 5 and adults over 60 years old are particularly at risk for contracting the infection. People living in crowded or unclean conditions, those who aren't well nourished, and children and adults who don't have up-to-date immunizations are also at risk.
Diphtheria is rare in the United States and Europe, where health officials have been immunizing children against it for decades. However, it's still common in developing countries where immunizations aren't given routinely. In 1993 and 1994, more than 50,000 cases were reported during a serious outbreak of diphtheria in countries of the former Soviet Union.
Signs and Symptoms
In its early stages, diphtheria can be mistaken for a bad sore throat. A low-grade fever and swollen neck glands are the other early symptoms.
The toxin, or poison, caused by the bacteria can lead to a thick coating in the nose, throat, or airway. This coating is usually fuzzy gray or black and can cause breathing problems and difficulty in swallowing. The formation of this coating (or membrane) in the nose, throat, or airway makes a diphtheria infection different from other more common infections (such as strep throat) that cause sore throat.
As the infection progresses, the person may:
have difficulty breathing or swallowing
complain of double vision
have slurred speech
even show signs of going into shock (skin that's pale and cold, rapid heartbeat, sweating, and an anxious appearance)
In cases that progress beyond a throat infection, diphtheria toxin spreads through the bloodstream and can lead to potentially life-threatening complications that affect other organs of the body, such as the heart and kidneys. The toxin can cause damage to the heart that affects its ability to pump blood or the kidneys' ability to clear wastes. It can also cause nerve damage, eventually leading to paralysis. Up to 40% to 50% of those who don't get treated can die.
Prevention
Preventing diphtheria depends almost completely on immunizing children with the diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis (DTP or DTaP) vaccine and non-immunized adults with the diphtheria/tetanus vaccine (DT). Most cases of diphtheria occur in people who haven't received the vaccine at all or haven't received the entire course.
The immunization schedule calls for:
DTaP vaccines at 2, 4, and 6 months of age
booster dose given at 12 to 18 months
booster dose given again at 4 to 6 years
booster shots given every 10 years after that to maintain protection
Although most children tolerate it well, the vaccine sometimes causes mild side effects such as redness or tenderness at the injection site, a low-grade fever, or general fussiness or crankiness. Severe complications, such as an allergic reaction, are rare.
Contagiousness
Diphtheria is highly contagious. It's easily passed from the infected person to others through sneezing, coughing, or even laughing. It can also be spread to others who pick up tissues or drinking glasses that have been used by the infected person.
People who have been infected by the diphtheria bacteria can infect others for up to 4 weeks, even if they don't have any symptoms. The incubation period (the time it takes for a person to become infected after being exposed) for diphtheria is 2 to 4 days, although it can range from 1 to 6 days.
Treatment
Children and adults with diphtheria are treated in a hospital. After a doctor confirms the diagnosis through a throat culture, the infected person receives a special anti-toxin, given through injections or through an IV, to neutralize the diphtheria toxin already circulating in the body, as well as antibiotics to kill the remaining diphtheria bacteria.
If the infection is advanced, people with diphtheria may need a ventilator to help them breathe. In cases in which the toxins may have spread to the heart, kidneys, or central nervous system, patients may need intravenous fluids, oxygen, or heart medications.
A person with diphtheria must also be isolated. Family members (as well as others who spend a lot of time with the person with diphtheria) who haven't been immunized, or who are very young or elderly, must be protected from contact with the patient.
When someone is diagnosed with diphtheria, the doctor will notify the local health department and will take steps to treat everyone in the household who may have been exposed to the bacteria. This will include assessment of immune status, throat cultures, and booster doses of the diphtheria vaccine. They will also receive antibiotics as a precaution.
Immediate hospitalization and early intervention allow most patients to recover from diphtheria. After the antibiotics and anti-toxin have taken effect, someone with diphtheria will need bed rest for a while (4 to 6 weeks, or until full recovery). Bed rest is particularly important if the person's heart has been affected by the disease. Myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, can be a complication of diphtheria.
Those who have recovered should still receive a full course of the diphtheria vaccine to prevent a recurrence because contracting the disease doesn't guarantee lifetime immunity. They are immunization shots so you don't get those particular diseases. |
