Do not be subjective with tetanus

Doctor examines patient for tetanus treatment at the Department of Infectious Diseases (Provincial General Hospital).

On June 3, the Department of Infectious Diseases (Provincial General Hospital) admitted a 16-year-old GAL patient from Na Tong commune (Tuan Giao district) to the hospital due to jaw stiffness, difficulty opening the mouth, and a poor prognosis. The patient had a history of good health. When admitted to the hospital, the patient was conscious, able to communicate, jaw opening 1.5cm, stiff neck, stiff jaw, and easily stimulated muscle contraction with noise. The nail wound on the sole of the right foot had dried and crusted. The patient was diagnosed with acute tetanus. Through investigation, it was known that the patient stepped on an iron nail 10 days before being admitted to the hospital. The wound was not treated, and the wound had dried; however, while working, he suddenly stimulated muscle stiffness throughout the body, fell, and had convulsions, so he was given emergency care at Tua Chua District Medical Center and then transferred to the Provincial General Hospital.

GAL patient said: “10 days before being admitted to the hospital, I stepped on an iron nail on the sole of my right foot. The wound was small so I was subjective. On the 7th day after stepping on the nail, I had a stiff jaw, difficulty opening my mouth, difficulty swallowing, and a stiff neck. Fortunately, after many days of intensive treatment by doctors, my condition has stabilized.”

Dr. Bui Quang Thang, Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases, said: On average, the department receives and treats 1-2 cases of tetanus each month, mainly in the districts of Tua Chua and Muong Cha. In 2023, 1 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 comes from very small wounds such as stepping on thorns or nails, in newborns, infection due to improper umbilical cord cutting and care... The incubation period lasts from 5-10 days, so it often creates a subjective mentality for the patient. If not treated promptly, tetanus will lead to dangerous complications such as difficulty breathing, suffocation, respiratory failure, epilepsy, 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. Doctor Thang recommends that people can proactively prevent tetanus by getting vaccinated against tetanus to create active protective immunity. To create basic immunity, 3 doses of vaccine are needed; in which, the second dose is 1 month after the first dose, the third dose is 6 months after the second dose. Once basic immunity is present, a booster dose of vaccine is needed every 5-10 years to have sustainable protective immunity. Pregnant women need to be actively vaccinated against tetanus because the mother's immunity from the vaccine is valuable in preventing neonatal tetanus in the child. In cases where the vaccine has not been vaccinated, when there is a wound, scratch or animal bite, it is necessary to go to the nearest medical facility to have the wound properly treated, and at the same time get vaccinated against tetanus and receive treatment according to the regimen; Absolutely avoid self-treating wounds at home such as applying leaves or grass which are not hygienic and can be one of the causes that facilitate the penetration of tetanus bacteria.

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