About Tetanus

Tetanus is a very serious disease that can occur anywhere. The tetanus vaccine is one commonly given in the United States as a routine vaccination, beginning at infancy. The tetanus vaccine has been shown to provide good protection up to 12 years after receiving the vaccination. Despite this finding, it is a good idea to routinely get a tetanus vaccine every ten years or so. 

Tetanus is an infection of the nervous system, caused by bacteria known as Clostridium tetani, or C. tetani. Tetanus is not spread from person to person, but instead is caused when the bacteria C. tetani gets into an open wound.

Tetanus Symptoms

Tetanus is also known as lockjaw, because its symptoms include mild spasms of the jaw muscles, as well as chest, neck, back and abdominal muscles. These spasms, caused by blocked signals from the spinal cord, are incredibly dangerous to the muscles, as well as the spine. The body often "locks up" during tetanus, which makes breathing and speaking very difficult for a patient. Other symptoms of tetanus include, but are not limited to, drooling, difficulty swallowing, fever and an uncontrollable bladder. It can take anywhere from 1-3 weeks to begin showing signs of tetanus, so it is critical to see a travel doctor in New York if you think you could have been exposed to tetanus. While having the tetanus vaccine prior to exposure is ideal, it can still be beneficial to receive a tetanus vaccine quickly after exposure.

Tetanus Treatment

Tetanus treatment is typically very successful. Metronidazole has a great success rate, as well as tetanus immune globulin to get rid of the poison. A travel doctor in New York would also prescribe muscle relaxers, which are another big part of tetanus treatment because they stop the muscle spasm, saving the muscles from tearing and the spinal cord from fracturing. Tetanus treatment also includes sedatives, surgery to clean the wound, and recovery in a non-stimulating environment. It is critical to tetanus treatment that the wound is cleaned. Cleaning the wound to the best of your ability, before seeking medical attention for the wound, will decrease your chances of contracting tetanus.

Any doctor practicing travel medicine in New York will be able to diagnose you with tetanus if you think you have been exposed. While there is no specific test to diagnose tetanus, a travel doctor in New York will be able to determine whether or not the symptoms can be attributed to tetanus or to another disease. A travel doctor in New York can also provide you with the tetanus vaccine and tetanus vaccine documentation prior to your trip.