China
Africa
Explore chapters and articles related to this topic
Specific Infections in Children
Published in Miriam Orcutt, Clare Shortall, Sarah Walpole, Aula Abbara, Sylvia Garry, Rita Issa, Alimuddin Zumla, Ibrahim Abubakar, Handbook of Refugee Health, 2021
Neal Russell, Sarah May Johnson, Andrew Chapman, Christian Harkensee, Sylvia Garry, Bhanu Williams
Tetanus can be diagnosed clinically (toxin detection is possible but rarely required). Differential diagnoses include cerebral malaria, meningitis and traumatic brain injury. To differentiate tetanic spasms from generalised tonic–clonic seizures, spasms are associated with preserved consciousness, provoked by stimulation, and usually a sustained contraction, while tonic–clonic seizures entail decreased consciousness during and after repetitive jerks. If diagnostic uncertainty, tetanus treatment may be given alongside treatment for other potential diagnoses such as meningitis. Invasive procedures such as lumbar punctures should be avoided if tetanus is likely.
The Musculoskeletal System and Its Disorders
Published in Walter F. Stanaszek, Mary J. Stanaszek, Robert J. Holt, Steven Strauss, Understanding Medical Terms, 2020
Walter F. Stanaszek, Mary J. Stanaszek, Robert J. Holt, Steven Strauss
Although tetanus or lockjaw is a disease affecting the nervous system, it may also be classified as musculoskeletal because it produces spasms and painful convulsions of the skeletal muscles. Tetanus is caused by infection by Clostridium tetani bacteria, which may be introduced into a puncture wound, cut, or burn by contamination with infected soil.
The cell
Published in Laurie K. McCorry, Martin M. Zdanowicz, Cynthia Y. Gonnella, Essentials of Human Physiology and Pathophysiology for Pharmacy and Allied Health, 2019
Laurie K. McCorry, Martin M. Zdanowicz, Cynthia Y. Gonnella
Tetanus is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium, Clostridium tetani. This bacterium produces a neurotoxin active on inhibitory synapses in the spinal cord. Motor neurons, the neurons that supply skeletal muscle and cause contraction, have cell bodies that lie in the spinal cord. Under normal circumstances, these motor neurons receive both excitatory and inhibitory inputs from various sources. The balance of these inputs results in the appropriate degree of muscle tone or muscle contraction. Tetanus toxin prevents the release of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), an important neurotransmitter active at the inhibitory synapses. Elimination of the inhibitory inputs results in unchecked or unmodulated excitatory input to the motor neurons. The resulting uncontrolled muscle spasms initially occur in the muscles of the jaw, giving rise to the expression lockjaw. The muscle spasms eventually affect the respiratory muscles, which prevents inspiration and leads to death due to asphyxiation.
The Roles of Injury Type, Injury Level and Amputation Type in the Need for Revision Surgery after Replantation: Retrospective Clinical Outcome with 296 Finger Replantation
Published in Journal of Investigative Surgery, 2022
Burak Sercan Erçin, Burak Ergün Tatar, Musa Kemal Keleş, Fatih Kabakaş
The general conditions of the patients were evaluated in the preoperative period. Amputated parts were wrapped with wet gauze. There was no direct ice contact to prevent frostbite. X-ray radiography of the injured hand and the amputated part was taken. Photographs of the amputated parts and stamps were taken for documentation. The patients were informed about the possibility of failure of the surgery, functional limitations after recovery, and the long treatment period. Prophylactic antibiotics were given to the patients before the operation. Tetanus prophylaxis was applied according to the patients’ medical histories and wound contaminations. The amputated parts were prepared prior to surgery until the patients entered the operating room. All operations were performed by two highly experienced surgeons.
The need for pertussis vaccination among older adults and high-risk groups: a perspective from advanced economies of the Asia Pacific region
Published in Expert Review of Vaccines, 2021
Leong Hoe Nam, Cheng-Hsun Chiu, Jung Yeon Heo, Margaret Ip, Ki-Suck Jung, Robert Menzies, Rodney Pearce, Philippe Buchy, Jing Chen, Michael Nissen, Kyu-Bin Oh
The current level of evidence in the countries we studied is considered strong enough to support ‘individual’ recommendations (physician to patient) for pertussis vaccination of adults aged 65+ years, but existing evidence is not strong enough to support a recommendation for Tdap vaccination amongst all adults and high-risk groups. The addition of a Tdap booster dose in 65+ year-olds makes sense from the perspective of medical need and practical implementation. Age itself is a risk for severe pertussis disease, and Tdap vaccination could be easily added to existing platforms for influenza, herpes zoster, and pneumococcal vaccination in this age-group. Tdap also provides booster vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus. In Australia, 90% of deaths due to tetanus in the last 30 years have been in adults aged 65+ years [108]. A seroprevalence study in South Korea in 2007–2008 showed that 92.0% of adults aged 61+ years had anti-tetanus antibody concentrations below the protective level of 0.1 IU/ml [109]. Tdap booster vaccination at age 65+ years would have the added benefit of boosting tetanus immunity in older populations in whom protection against tetanus has waned.
Understanding modern-day vaccines: what you need to know
Published in Annals of Medicine, 2018
Volker Vetter, Gülhan Denizer, Leonard R. Friedland, Jyothsna Krishnan, Marla Shapiro
Toxoids provide protection through the induction of antibodies that must be present at disease onset to be effective. For this reason, toxoid vaccines require multiple doses to maintain adequate life-long protection. However, toxoids protect only against disease pathogenesis in vaccinated individuals but do not prevent infection or transmission [49]. Consequently, all individuals need to be vaccinated regularly, and indirect protection of unvaccinated people is generally not possible. This is notably illustrated by the tetanus vaccine. Tetanus is not transmitted from person-to-person but occurs through contamination of wounds with C. tetani spores that are widespread in the environment such as in the soil [45]. Therefore, high vaccination coverage does not provide herd protection and unvaccinated or individuals not receiving regular booster doses are potentially at risk.