Can a small scratch cause tetanus

Can You Get Tetanus From A Small Scratch?

Tetanus is characterized with continuous muscle spasms and rigidity that happens at frequent intervals and lasts up to several minutes. The onset of these spasms is very sudden, and they are very powerful and extremely painful. These spasms usually start in the muscles of the jaw this is known a lockjaw or trismus. They then gradually progress to the rest of the body in a descending order.

To know whether we can get tetanus from a scratch, let us first understand a bit about the causative organism of tetanus and how it works.

Tetanus is a rare yet deadly disease. An anaerobic organism called clostridium tetany is responsible for causing it. This organism is abundantly available in each and every part of the world. It is found in soil, dirt, manure and saliva. The spores of this bacterium get inside our body easily through a wound or an injury, even a small puncture. And the environment in a wound is very much suitable for this bacterium to grow. Once inside the body, the spores grow into the bacterium c. tetany and travel to the nervous system. There they adhere to the nerve ends. The nerves that are responsible for the muscular movements in our body get affected due to this and as a result, they cause uncontrolled spasms and rigidity or stiffness in various muscles of the body. This can result in severe damage in various systems and organs of our body.

Can you Get Tetanus From a Small Scratch?

Even if a wound or an injury is just skin deep, it still carries a risk factor of getting infected by tetanus especially, if the wound is unclean and has a lot of dirt in it. Also, a lack of past immunization against tetanus, proves to be equally potential a risk factor. As explained earlier, the spores of c. tetany can easily enter a wound as they are abundantly available everywhere. They just need a puncture to get inside the body, and a scratch is more than sufficient for them to do their work.

It is clear that tetanus is a serious and fatal condition, even though rare. Hence, any injury-scratch or deep, clean or dirty, should be brought to the notice of your healthcare provider, so that he can assess whether the wound is tetanus prone, and what measures are to be taken in order to prevent tetanus.

The most important and first of the symptoms of tetanus is lockjaw or trismus. Along with lockjaw, facial muscles can be affected, and they can result in a classic appearance known as risus sardonicus. In this condition, the affected person presents with arched eyebrows and a grinning, open mouth, which looks quite malevolent in appearance to the onlookers. The affected person, however, is totally oblivious to this fact. Another classic posture seen in tetanus is opisthotonos. In this condition, the back of the affected person is bridged backwards like a bow; due to the spasms and rigidity in the back muscles. It is quite a painful condition and can result in severe damage to the organs and affected systems.

The spasms occurring in tetanus are so severe that it may result in fracture of bones. Also, the spasms are very painful and sudden. It may even damage the spine to such extent as to cause paralysis.

Another major complication occurring during a tetanus infection is respiratory failure. As the muscles get spastic, the respiratory muscles can also get affected and cause respiratory failure. Because of reduced oxygen supply due to this reason, cardiac arrest can occur which will lead to death.

Pulmonary embolism is another major complication. A blood clot already present anywhere in the body can travel and get stuck in the main artery of lung, or even its branches. This will lead to the blockage of the lung artery.

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Causes and How It Spreads

Tetanus is an infection caused by a bacterium calledClostridium tetani. Spores of tetanus bacteria are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and manure. The spores develop into bacteria when they enter the body. Unlike other vaccine-preventable diseases, tetanus is not spread from person to person.

Common ways tetanus gets into your body

The spores can get into someones body through broken skin, usually through injuries. Tetanus bacteria are more likely to infect certain breaks in the skin. These include:

• Wounds contaminated with dirt, feces (poop), or saliva (spit)
• Puncture wounds (wounds caused by an object, like a nail or needle, breaking the skin)
• Burns
• Crush injuries (injury to a body part due to pressure from another object or being squeezed between two heavy objects)
• Injuries with dead tissue

Other ways tetanus gets into your body

Tetanus bacteria can also infect someones body through breaks in the skin caused by:

• Clean superficial wounds (when only the topmost layer of skin is scraped off)
• Surgical procedures
• Insect bites
• Dental infections
• Compound fractures (an exposed broken bone)
• Chronic sores and infections
• Intravenous (IV) drug use
• Intramuscular injections (shots given in a muscle)

Time from exposure to illness

The incubation period time from exposure to illness is usually between 3 and 21 days (average 8 days). However, it may range from 1 day to several months, depending on the kind of wound. Most cases occur within 14 days. In general, doctors see shorter incubation periods with:

• More heavily contaminated wounds
• More serious disease

Tetanus

Overview

Tetanus is a serious disease of the nervous system caused by a toxin-producing bacterium. The disease causes muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. Tetanus is commonly known as lockjaw.

Severe complications of tetanus can be life-threatening. There's no cure for tetanus. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms and complications until the effects of the tetanus toxin resolve.

Because of the widespread use of vaccines, cases of tetanus are rare in the United States and other parts of the developed world. The disease remains a threat to people who aren't up to date on their vaccinations. It's more common in developing countries.

Symptoms

The average time from infection to appearance of signs and symptoms (incubation period) is 10 days. The incubation period can range from 3 to 21 days.

The most common type of tetanus is called generalized tetanus. Signs and symptoms begin gradually and then progressively worsen over two weeks. They usually start at the jaw and progress downward on the body.

Signs and symptoms of generalized tetanus include:

• Painful muscle spasms and stiff, immovable muscles (muscle rigidity) in your jaw
• Tension of muscles around your lips, sometimes producing a persistent grin
• Painful spasms and rigidity in your neck muscles
• Difficulty swallowing
• Rigid abdominal muscles

Progression of tetanus results in repeated painful, seizure-like spasms that last for several minutes (generalized spasms). Usually, the neck and back arch, the legs become rigid, the arms are drawn up to the body, and the fists are clenched. Muscle rigidity in the neck and abdomen may cause breathing difficulties.

These severe spasms may be triggered by minor events that stimulate the senses a loud sound, a physical touch, a draft or light.

As the disease progresses, other signs and symptoms may include:

• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heart rate
• Fever
• Extreme sweating

Localized tetanus

This uncommon form of tetanus results in muscles spasms near the site of a wound. While it's usually a less severe form of disease, it can progress to generalized tetanus.

Cephalic tetanus

This rare form of tetanus results from a head wound. It results in weakened muscles in the face and spasms of the jaw muscles. It also can progress to generalized tetanus.

When to see a doctor

Tetanus is a life-threatening disease. If you have signs or symptoms of tetanus, seek emergency care.

If you have a simple, clean wound and you've had a tetanus shot within 10 years you can care for your wound at home.

Seek medical care in the following cases:

• You've not had a tetanus shot within 10 years.
• You are unsure of when you last had a tetanus shot.
• You have a puncture wound, a foreign object in your wound, an animal bite or a deep cut.
• Your wound is contaminated with dirt, soil, feces, rust or saliva or you have any doubt about whether you've cleaned a wound sufficiently after such exposure. Contaminated wounds require a vaccination booster if it's been five or more years since your last tetanus shot.

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Causes

The bacterium that causes tetanus is called Clostridium tetani. The bacterium can survive in a dormant state in soil and animal feces. It's essentially shut down until it discovers a place to thrive.

When the dormant bacteria enter a wound a condition good for growth the cells are "awakened." As they are growing and dividing, they release a toxin called tetanospasmin. The toxin impairs the nerves in the body that control muscles.

Risk factors

The greatest risk factor for tetanus infection is not being vaccinated or not keeping up with the 10-year booster shots.

Other factors that increase the risk of tetanus infection are:

• Cuts or wounds exposed to soil or manure
• A foreign body in a wound, such as a nail or splinter
• A history of immune-suppressing medical conditions
• Infected skin lesions in people living with diabetes
• An infected umbilical cord when a mother isn't fully vaccinated
• Shared and unsanitary needles for illegal drug use

Complications

Complications of tetanus infection may include:

• Breathing problems. Life-threatening breathing problems can occur from tightening of the vocal cords and muscle rigidity in the neck and abdomen, especially during a generalized spasm.
• Blockage of a lung artery (pulmonary embolism). A blood clot that has traveled from elsewhere in your body can block the main artery of the lung or one of its branches.
• Pneumonia. A lung infection caused by accidentally inhaling something into the lungs (aspiration pneumonia) may be a complication of generalized spasms.
• Broken bones. Generalized spasms may cause fractures of the spine or other bones.
• Death. Death from tetanus is often caused by a blocked airway during spasms or damage to the nerves that regulate breathing, heart rate or other organ functions.

Prevention

You can prevent tetanus by being vaccinated.

Vaccination for children

The tetanus vaccine is given to children as part of the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP). Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection of the nose and throat. Acellular pertussis, also called whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection.

Children who do not tolerate the pertussis vaccine may receive the alternative vaccine called DT.

The DTaP is a series of five shots typically given in the arm or thigh to children at ages:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 15 to 18 months
• 4 to 6 years

Vaccination for children ages 7 to 18

A booster shot is recommended for children at age 11 or 12. This booster is called the Tdap vaccine. If your child didn't get a booster shot as this age, talk to your doctor about appropriate options.

Vaccination for adults age 19 and older

A booster shot is recommended for adults once every 10 years. This may be one of two vaccines, Tdap or Td. If you weren't vaccinated against tetanus as a child or are unsure about your vaccination status, see your doctor about getting the Tdap vaccine.

Vaccination during pregnancy

A booster is recommended during the third trimester of a pregnancy, regardless of the mother's vaccination schedule.

Other recommendations

• Ask your doctor to review your vaccination status regularly.
• Check whether you are current on your vaccination schedule if you are planning international travel.

Dec. 21, 2023