Treatment of tetanus in children as soon as detecting the infected wound

Tetanus is a serious disease in children. Without rapid treatment of tetanus in children, the disease can lead to death when the respiratory muscles stop working.

Tetanus is an infection caused by a bacterium Clostridium tetani. Tetanus bacteria spores are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and feces. The spores will develop into bacteria when they enter the body.

This bacterium produces a nerve damaging toxin called tetanospasmin. The muscles controlled by these nerves become stiff and paralyzed. Types of tetanus include systemic, local and neonatal. Tetanus is not contagious and vaccines are available.

Ways for tetanus bacteria to enter a child's body

Spores can enter the body from an open wound in the skin, usually a wound caused by an infected object. Some skin wounds are more likely to become infected with tetanus, including:

Contaminated wounds, feces or saliva

Injuries caused by stepping on nails or needles

Burn

Crushed injury (crushed, partly crushed)

Injury to tissue death.

In rare cases, tetanus has also been linked to:

Clean the wounds on the surface

Surgical procedure

Insect bites

Tooth infection

Open fracture (fracture of a bone that has been sticking out)

Chronic infection

Using intravenous (IV) drugs

Intramuscular injection (intramuscular injection).

Although tetanus is not spread from person to person, it is common all over the world. The disease is usually concentrated in countries with hot and humid climates, fertile soil, and densely populated areas also create conditions for tetanus bacillus to proliferate.

The duration of tetanus in children

The incubation period is from exposure to the tetanus bacteria - usually 3 to 21 days (average 10 days) although it can range from one day to several months depending on the type of wound. Most outbreaks occur within 14 days. In general, the shorter incubation period is usually wounds that are seriously infected, the disease gets worse, and have a poor prognosis.

Ways to help treat a child with tetanus 

The doctor will treat tetanus by removing the source of toxins, antitoxin, preventing and treating baby's muscle twitches, such as:

Rinse all wounds and remove dead tissue. Use antibiotics to kill bacteria

Your baby will be vaccinated with an anti-tetanus toxin called SAT (a type of immunoglobulin with human tetanus) to detoxify.

Diazepam and sedatives will help control seizures

Children need a tetanus vaccine, usually four shots starting before age 2 through age as directed by a doctor.

After you have been injured at risk of tetanus, you should give your child a preventive dose of medication right away

Infants need to be in a clean sanitary environment and with careful care for the umbilical cord

Parents should remember carefully the child's vaccination schedule so that the child can be immunized in a timely manner

If your baby has a stiff jaw, has difficulty swallowing, and has muscle twitching, a ventilator is needed.

Tetanus can last 2 to 3 months. Full recovery can take 4 months. Physiotherapy will help the affected muscles become healthy again.

Tetanus is a quite dangerous disease that can be life threatening. Therefore, if your child suffers from the above-mentioned injuries, please take him to a doctor right away so that he or she can be treated promptly.