Requires mechanical ventilation due to a minor scratch.

Người Lao Động•02/09/2023

Dr. Ha Thi Hai Duong, Deputy Head of the Adult Emergency, Intensive Care and Toxicology Department at the Ho Chi Minh City Tropical Diseases Hospital, said that N. is one of 10 tetanus cases currently being treated at the hospital.

Tetanus is often caused by scratches, wounds from traffic accidents, household accidents, stepping on nails or thorns, tooth decay, etc.

Accordingly, N. was recently weaned off a ventilator after 4 weeks due to tetanus. Upon taking her medical history, her family stated that due to difficult circumstances, she had to leave school early to help her parents earn money.

N. was examined by a doctor after being weaned off the ventilator.

While working as a construction laborer with his father, N. unfortunately stepped on a nail about 3cm long. The wound caused his foot to bleed. Afterwards, he pulled the nail out, cleaned and bandaged the wound, and continued working, thinking that the small wound would heal quickly.

However, a week later, N. developed symptoms of jaw stiffness and muscle pain, so her family took her to a local hospital for examination. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with tetanus. Due to the worsening condition, she was transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases for treatment.

Here, during treatment, N. had to be put on a ventilator due to severe complications. Now, after 4 weeks, she has been weaned off the ventilator and her health is gradually recovering.

Notably, due to difficult circumstances, N. did not have health insurance, and the hospital fees exceeded her family's means, so she had to seek assistance from the hospital's social work department.

Similarly, just because of a single scratch while clearing a pile of firewood at home, Mr. LVĐ (83 years old, residing in An Giang ) had to be put on a ventilator due to tetanus.

Tetanus is a severe, potentially fatal acute disease caused by toxins produced by the tetanus bacteria.

Taking advantage of the time to visit his father in the intensive care unit, Mr. L.D.H (47 years old, residing in An Giang) said that when his father got a scratch, he thought it was a small wound and only used a bandage to cover it. Eight days later, his father showed signs of muscle pain, but thinking it was just age-related joint pain, the family took him to a local private clinic for injections.

However, after 4 days, the condition did not improve and additional symptoms such as jaw stiffness and difficulty eating appeared, so the family took him to the National Dental and Maxillofacial Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for examination.

Here, after examination, the doctor diagnosed Mr. D. with tetanus and transferred him to the Tropical Diseases Hospital for treatment. At the hospital, Mr. D.'s respiratory failure led to his emergency room admission and he has been on a ventilator ever since.

According to Doctor Hai Duong, out of approximately 18 cases treated in the department, 10 were diagnosed with tetanus. The disease is usually caused by scratches, wounds from traffic accidents, household accidents, stepping on nails or thorns, tooth decay, etc. However, about 20% of patients have no clear entry point for the wound.

According to Doctor Hai Duong, tetanus is a severe acute disease that can be fatal due to the toxins produced by the tetanus bacteria. The disease is preventable through vaccination.

For children, vaccinations are given at 2, 3, and 4 months of age. For adults who have not been vaccinated, it is recommended that they proactively get all three doses to prevent disease, as advised by the Ministry of Health .

Dr. Hai Duong also noted that when a patient has a wound such as stepping on a nail, they should have the nail removed immediately, then use hydrogen peroxide to disinfect it. If the wound is deep and dirty, they should go to a medical facility for guidance on care and vaccination. However, even with small wounds, improper treatment can still lead to tetanus.

According to Doctor Hai Duong, tetanus has symptoms such as jaw fatigue, jaw stiffness, difficulty chewing and swallowing, choking while eating, and muscle pain. In more severe cases, patients experience muscle stiffness in the neck, back, abdomen, and limbs, along with generalized muscle spasms, laryngeal and tracheal spasms leading to respiratory failure.

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