Tetanus Symptoms and Treatment

Causes and Treatments for Tetanus

Tetanus, also commonly known as lockjaw, is caused by a kind of bacteria called clostridium tetani that lives in the soil and enters the body through cuts and wound caused by sharp, rusted implements, minor accidents, animal or dog bites, surgeries and injections. If the germs are able to penetrate deep into the skin where they are not exposed to direct air, they germinate and produce a poisonous chemical called exotoxin that interferes with the normal functioning of the nerves of the area. This causes extreme stiffness of the muscles in that region, which might ultimately lead to distortion in the shape of the infected body part. The initial symptoms also include pain and stiffness in the neck, limbs and the trunk, pain in swallowing food and occasional spasms in the voluntary muscles. These symptoms may manifest themselves within five days of the infection or may take as long as three weeks to appear. If left untreated, tetanus can cause painful convulsions in the entire body that may prove fatal. Children and old people are at greater risk of contracting this infection than others.

The best way to prevent tetanus is to get tetanus shots every couple of years since immunization against this disease is not permanent. It is best to get the wound tested for a correct diagnosis if you cannot recall when you last got a tetanus injection. However, there are a few remedies that you may follow at home in order to prevent tetanus. Apply some spirit of turpentine on the wound to kill the bacteria that might be breeding in the skin abrasion, thereby minimizing the chances of infection. This also brings quick relief from local pain and stiffness. You should also clean the wound regularly with antiseptic soap solution and apply antibiotic ointments locally to prevent infections. Increase your consumption of citrus fruits as they contain vitamin C which strengthens the body’s natural immune system and thereby defends it against infections. If the wound is especially large, you must get it stitched immediately in order to prevent germs from entering the body through the abrasion in the skin. A natural remedy for treating lockjaw is to grind one part of lobelia seeds and two parts of cayenne pepper into a fine powder and add hot water to this mixture. A few drops of this solution should be consumed orally for instant relief from the stiffness in muscles.