Don't underestimate tetanus.

Doctors examine patients being treated for tetanus at the Infectious Diseases Department (Provincial General Hospital).

On June 3rd, the Infectious Diseases Department (Provincial General Hospital) admitted a 16-year-old patient, GAL, from Na Tong commune (Tuan Giao district), due to jaw stiffness and difficulty opening the mouth, with a serious prognosis. The patient had a history of good health; upon admission, the patient was conscious, able to communicate, with jaw opening 1.5 cm, neck stiffness, jaw rigidity, and easily stimulated by noise. The nail wound on the sole of the right foot had dried and scabbed over. The patient was diagnosed with acute tetanus. Further investigation revealed that the patient had stepped on a metal nail 10 days prior to admission, without treating the wound, which had dried. However, during work, the patient experienced sudden generalized muscle spasms, fell, and convulsions, leading to emergency treatment at the Tua Chua District Health Center before being transferred to the Provincial General Hospital.

Patient GAL stated: “Ten days before being admitted to the hospital, I stepped on an iron nail in the sole of my right foot. The wound was small, so I didn't take it seriously. On the seventh day after stepping on the nail, I experienced jaw stiffness, difficulty opening my mouth, difficulty swallowing, and neck stiffness. Fortunately, after several days of intensive treatment by the doctors, my condition has stabilized.”

Dr. Bui Quang Thang, Deputy Head of the Infectious Diseases Department, said: On average, the department treats 1-2 tetanus cases per month, mainly from the districts of Tua Chua and Muong Cha. In 2023, one patient in Tua Chua died. Symptoms of tetanus include jaw stiffness (most common), difficulty swallowing, restlessness, irritability, stiff neck, stiff arms or legs, headache, sore throat, arched back, toxic spasms, and difficulty opening the jaw. The cause of tetanus stems from very small wounds such as stepping on thorns or nails, or in newborns, infection due to improper umbilical cord cutting and care... The incubation period lasts from 5-10 days, often leading to complacency in patients. If not treated promptly, tetanus can lead to dangerous complications such as difficulty breathing, suffocation, respiratory failure, seizures, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and even death.

Tetanus can occur in anyone, at any age, if they have not been fully vaccinated against tetanus and do not know how to properly care for and treat wounds. Dr. Thang advises that people can proactively prevent tetanus by getting vaccinated to create active protective immunity. To create basic immunity, three doses of the vaccine are needed; the second dose is given one month after the first, and the third dose is given six months after the second. Once basic immunity is achieved, a booster dose should be given every 5-10 years to ensure lasting protection. Pregnant women should be vaccinated against tetanus because the maternal immunity from the vaccine is valuable in preventing neonatal tetanus in their children. For those who have not been vaccinated, when experiencing wounds, abrasions, or animal bites, they should go to the nearest medical facility for proper wound treatment, and simultaneously receive a tetanus vaccine and treatment according to the prescribed protocol. Absolutely avoid self-treating wounds at home, such as applying unsanitary leaves or herbs, as this can be one of the causes that create conditions for tetanus bacteria to enter the body.