Tetanus

Table of Contents

Tetanus is an acute infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by clostridium tetani and is characterized by spasms of the skeletal muscles frequently attacking the muscles of the jaw.

Tetanus is commonly known as ‘Lock-jaw.’

Tetanus is a severe bacterial infection characterized by intermittent spasms (twitching) of voluntary muscles.

It is caused by the neurotoxin tetanospasmin produced by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium commonly found in soil, dust, and animal feces. The incubation period ranges from a few days to several weeks (averaging 7-10 days), with shorter periods indicating a more severe infection.

Causative Agent and Transmission:

Tetanus is caused by the exotoxins of clostridium tetani.

The causative agent is Clostridium tetani, whose spores enter the body through various routes:

Deep penetrating wounds: Puncture wounds, lacerations, burns, and crush injuries provide anaerobic conditions ideal for spore germination.
Umbilical cord: In newborns (neonatal tetanus), infection often arises from an unsterile umbilical cord stump.
Other routes: Ear infections, wounds sustained during delivery, and septic abortions can also serve as entry points.
The organism can live for a long time in any condition, especially dirty environments. So it can be found in dust, soil, or grass.
The clostridia can be normal organisms in the alimentary canal of animals but when passed out and gain entry to the human body, they become harmful. The organism can be found in cows, horse, sheep, or goat.

Incidence of tetanus:

In babies born at home before arrival at the hospital.
In homes where domestic animals are kept.

Pathophysiology of Tetanus

The pathophysiology of tetanus involves the invasion of the body by bacilli or spores, typically through deep puncture wounds or cuts. These bacilli find a suitable environment to multiply in anaerobic conditions. It is crucial to note that all unclean wounds pose a significant risk. Once the clostridium tetani organisms enter the wound, they unleash two forms of exotoxins into the surrounding tissues: tetanospasmin and tetanolysin.

Tetanospasmin, a potent toxin, plays a critical role in producing the disease’s clinical manifestations. It primarily affects the central nervous system (CNS). The toxins specifically target the motor nerve cells of the spinal cord and the brain. As a result, spasms develop in the muscles that are supplied by the corresponding nerves.

Route of entry

The route of entry for the clostridium tetani organisms includes various pathways, all of which can lead to infection and subsequent tetanus:

Infected ulcerated wound.
Postoperative wounds.
Umbilical stumps (in newborns).
Gun-shot wounds.
Septic abortion.
Jiggers or foreign bodies.
Burns and scalds.

Clinical Features of Tetanus:

Symptoms typically begin with localized muscle stiffness, progressing to more generalized manifestations:

Trismus (Lockjaw): Difficulty opening the mouth due to masseter muscle spasm. Stiffness of the muscles, particularly noticeable in the jaw. Spasms affecting the muscles of the face, especially the cheek and jaw, leading to difficulty in opening the mouth, a condition referred to as trismus.
Risus sardonicus: A characteristic grimace with a sardonic smile. The angles of the mouth are pulled outwards, causing a forced smile known as risus sardonicus or the “Devil’s grin.”
Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing. Swallowing becomes challenging as the muscles of the mouth and esophagus are affected by spasms.
Weight loss may occur due to difficulties in eating, leading to starvation.
Muscle spasms: Severe, painful spasms initially affecting the jaw and neck, then spreading to other muscle groups. Spasms can be triggered by stimuli such as sounds or light.
Opisthotonos: Severe arching of the back due to muscle spasms, while the patient remains conscious. The head is thrown back, and the back becomes arched due to the rigid muscles in the neck, a condition called opisthotonus.
Fever: Often present. Patients may experience an elevated temperature and rapid pulse.
Signs of inflammation may be evident, such as swelling of the umbilical cord (if present in newborns), a wet cord, offensive smell, or pus discharge from the wound site.
Respiratory distress: Spasms of respiratory muscles can cause respiratory failure, a life-threatening complication. Spasms affecting the respiratory muscles may lead to prolonged periods without oxygen (anoxia), which can be life-threatening and result in death.
Autonomic nervous system instability: This can lead to fluctuating blood pressure, sweating, and tachycardia.
Hyperreflexia: Exaggerated reflexes.
Absence of a visible wound: Does not exclude a diagnosis of tetanus; infection can sometimes occur without a readily apparent wound.
Spasms of the sphincters can result in retention of urine or stool, and in severe cases, sphincter rupture may occur.
Patients may have a wound or a history of a wound, which could be the point of entry for the tetanus-causing bacteria.

Alblett Classification of Tetanus

There are several grading systems; the scale proposed by Ablett5
is the most widely used . This categorizes patients
into four grades depending upon the intensity of spasms, and
respiratory and autonomic involvement.

Management of Tetanus

There’s no cure for tetanus. A tetanus infection requires emergency and long-term supportive care while the disease runs its course.

Aims of Management

To control spasms.
To eliminate the causative organism and its toxins.
To prevent complications, and ensure adequate nutrition for the patient.

Specific treatment measures include:

Penicillin: Administering penicillin is a crucial step in destroying the tetanus-causing organism.
Anti-tetanus serum: The administration of anti-tetanus serum helps neutralize the spreading toxins and halt their further detrimental effects.
Sedation and muscle relaxants: Medications like diazepam and chlorpromazine are given to provide sedation and muscle relaxation, effectively alleviating spasms and minimizing discomfort.
Wound management: If there is a wound or focus of infection where the tetanus bacteria may have entered, the dead tissue is excised, and the area is irrigated with hydrogen peroxide. Leaving the wound open without suturing promotes oxygen exposure, hindering the growth of tetanus bacilli, which thrive in anaerobic conditions.

Neutralizing the Toxin:

Tetanus Immunoglobulin (TIG): Human TIG is administered to neutralize circulating toxins. The dose varies depending on age and the severity of the contamination:

Adults and children: 150 IU/kg (administered at least in two different IM sites, separate from the tetanus toxoid injection site).
Neonates: 500 IU IM (in at least two different IM sites).

Tetanus Toxoid (TT) or DPT: The appropriate vaccine (TT or DPT) should be administered immediately to provide active immunity. Refer to the vaccination guidelines for specific age-appropriate regimens.

Eliminating the Source of Toxin:

Wound management: Thorough cleaning and debridement of wounds to remove necrotic tissue and eliminate the bacterial source. For umbilical wounds in neonatal tetanus, meticulous cleaning and debridement of the umbilical stump are essential.

Antibiotic Treatment:

First-line: Metronidazole (500 mg every 8 hours IV or orally for 7 days; children: 7.5 mg/kg every 8 hours).
Second-line: Benzylpenicillin (2.5 MU every 6 hours for 10 days; children: 50,000-100,000 IU/kg per dose; Neonates: 100,000 IU/kg every 12 hours for 10-14 days)

Control of Muscle Spasms:

First-line: Diazepam (10 mg IV or rectal every 1-4 hours; children: 0.2 mg/kg IV or 0.5 mg/kg rectal every 1-4 hours, max 10mg). For Neonates: 0.2 mg/kg IV or 0.5 mg/kg rectal every 1 to 4 hours.
Other agents: Magnesium sulfate (alone or with diazepam), chlorpromazine (alone or alternating with diazepam). Monitor for side effects (e.g., respiratory depression with diazepam, loss of knee-jerk reflex with magnesium sulfate). Chlorpromazine dosage for neonates: 1 mg/kg orally 8 hourly via NGT.

Pain Control:

Morphine: (2.5-10 mg IV every 4-6 hours; monitor for respiratory depression; children: 0.1 mg/kg per dose).
Paracetamol: (1 g every 8 hours; children: 10 mg/kg every 6 hours).

Prevention:

Routine childhood immunization: All children should receive the recommended tetanus toxoid-containing vaccines (DTP, Tdap, or Td) as per national immunization schedules.
Proper wound care: Prompt and appropriate treatment of wounds, including cleaning and debridement, significantly reduces the risk.
Prophylactic TIG: For individuals with contaminated wounds and incomplete or unknown immunization status:

Children < 5 years: 75 IU
Children 5-10 years: 125 IU
Children > 10 years and adults: 250 IU

Wound care: Proper care of wounds, including thorough cleaning and debridement, helps prevent infection.

Control of spasms involves the following measures:

Absolute rest and isolation: The patient should be kept in a quiet room with dim lighting to minimize triggers for spasms.
Prevention of external stimuli: Measures such as fitting the door with suitable closing materials or springs prevent slamming noises that could stimulate the patient.
Warming hands before touching: Nurses should warm their hands before touching the patient to avoid any stimulation that might trigger spasms.
Medication administration: Sedatives and muscle relaxants, such as chlorpromazine (Largactil), and Diazepam, are given regularly through a nasogastric tube to maintain a controlled state and alleviate spasms.

o Example of 6 hourly regimen

Drug

6-9

9-12

12-3

3-6

6-9

9-12

12-3

3-6

6-9

Largactil

⫼⫼⫼⫼

Diazepam

⫼⫼⫼⫼

General Management:

Close observation and airway management: Monitor the patient closely, ensuring a clear airway and using a mucous extractor if necessary.
Vital signs monitoring: Regularly check temperature, pulse, and respirations, noting the severity of the condition. Record the strength, frequency, duration, and body part involved in spasms using a spasm chart.
Nutrition: Maintain adequate nutrition through nasogastric tube feeding to avoid stimulating spasms with injections. Prevent aspiration of fluids into the airway.
Catheterization: Catheterize the patient to maintain proper bladder function.
Fluid balance chart: Monitor and maintain fluid balance, initially using intravenous fluids if necessary and later transitioning to nasogastric tube feeding.
Hygiene: Ensure daily cleaning of the cord with normal saline and perform oral care carefully. Turn the patient every two hours to prevent pressure sores.
Vaccination: Prevent future tetanus cases by ensuring all individuals receive a full course of DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus) vaccination.
Use sterile equipment: Prevent cross-infection by using sterile equipment during medical procedures.
Bowel and bladder care: Monitor and assist the patient in passing stool and urine.
Medication: Administer prescribed drugs as instructed.
Physiotherapy: Implement physiotherapy sessions for deep breathing exercises and active limb movements.

Prevention:

Public health education: Raise awareness about the dangers of using unsterilized equipment during childbirth and applying native medicine or other substances to the umbilical cord.
Immunization: Ensure that all women of childbearing age are vaccinated against tetanus.
Safe childbirth practices: Promote safe and clean practices during childbirth to prevent infections.
Discourage harmful practices: Discourage practices like applying cow dung to a child’s umbilical cord.
Wound care education: Educate people on cleaning wounds thoroughly with water and soap to prevent infections. Encourage covering wounds with sterile dressings and seeking early medical attention for cut wounds.
Protective gear: Encourage the use of gum boots when digging to prevent soil-related infections.

Complications of Tetanus

Fracture of bones or the spine: The intense and frequent muscle spasms can cause fractures in bones or the spine, especially if the spasms are severe and uncontrolled.
Pneumonia: Heavy sedation, a common treatment for managing tetanus spasms, may lead to shallow breathing or difficulty in clearing the airway, increasing the risk of pneumonia, a potentially severe respiratory infection.
Brain damage: The potent toxins produced by the tetanus-causing bacteria can affect the central nervous system, leading to brain damage in severe cases.
Growth retardation: In children affected by tetanus, the disease can interfere with proper nutrition and growth, potentially causing growth retardation.
Exhaustion: The continuous and strenuous muscle spasms can lead to extreme exhaustion, further weakening the patient’s overall condition.
Respiratory failure: In severe cases, the spasms can affect the respiratory muscles, resulting in respiratory failure, where the patient is unable to breathe adequately on their own.
Retention of urine: Spasms in the pelvic region can cause the sphincters to contract, leading to difficulty in passing urine and possible urine retention.
Death due to airway obstruction: In the most severe cases, the intense spasms, particularly those affecting the muscles of the jaw and neck, can obstruct the airway, leading to suffocation and potential death.

Test Questions

Which bacterium causes tetanus?
a) Streptococcus pyogenes
b) Staphylococcus aureus
c) Clostridium tetani
d) Escherichia coli
Answer: c) Clostridium tetani

Explanation: Clostridium tetani is the bacterium responsible for causing tetanus.

What is the common term used to describe tetanus due to spasms in the jaw muscles?
a) Trismus
b) Opisthotonus
c) Risus sardonicus
d) Tetanospasmin
Answer: a) Trismus

Explanation: Trismus is the medical term for difficulty in opening the mouth due to jaw muscle spasms, which is commonly known as “Lock-jaw.”

What is the primary goal of managing tetanus?
a) Preventing complications
b) Destroying the toxin
c) Controlling fever
d) Alleviating pain
Answer: a) Preventing complications

Explanation: The main aim of managing tetanus is to prevent complications associated with the disease and ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.

What is the specific treatment given to destroy the tetanus-causing organism?
a) Penicillin
b) Paracetamol
c) Aspirin
d) Ibuprofen
Answer: a) Penicillin

Explanation: Penicillin is administered to destroy the Clostridium tetani bacterium responsible for causing tetanus.

Which complication of tetanus can lead to respiratory failure?
a) Pneumonia
b) Fracture of bones
c) Brain damage
d) Respiratory muscle spasms
Answer: d) Respiratory muscle spasms

Explanation: Tetanus-induced spasms affecting the respiratory muscles can lead to respiratory failure, where the patient is unable to breathe adequately on their own.

Why is the use of a mucous extractor important in tetanus management?
a) To prevent dehydration
b) To clear the airway
c) To alleviate muscle spasms
d) To prevent fever
Answer: b) To clear the airway

Explanation: A mucous extractor is used to clear the airway and prevent obstruction caused by excessive secretions, which is crucial in tetanus management.

What is the recommended method for feeding tetanus patients to avoid spasms triggered by injections?
a) Intravenous feeding
b) Nasogastric tube feeding
c) Oral feeding
d) Intramuscular injections
Answer: b) Nasogastric tube feeding

Explanation: Nasogastric tube feeding is used to provide nutrition and administer drugs to tetanus patients while avoiding the stimulation of spasms caused by intramuscular injections.

Which immunization should be given to prevent future tetanus cases?
a) Hepatitis B
b) Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)
c) Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus (DPT)
d) Polio
Answer: c) Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus (DPT)

Explanation: The DPT vaccine provides immunity against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus, preventing future tetanus cases.

What measure can be taken to prevent tetanus in newborns with umbilical stumps?
a) Cleaning the stump with cow dung
b) Applying native medicine on the stump
c) Keeping the stump dry and clean
d) Ignoring the stump until it falls off naturally
Answer: c) Keeping the stump dry and clean

Explanation: Maintaining cleanliness and dryness of the umbilical stump can prevent infection and the risk of tetanus in newborns.

What is the purpose of physiotherapy in tetanus management?
a) To provide pain relief
b) To promote muscle strength
c) To control spasms
d) To increase body temperature
Answer: b) To promote muscle strength

Explanation: Physiotherapy aims to promote muscle strength and mobility, which can be helpful in the recovery process of tetanus patients.