Which of these is an alternative name for tetanus?
Tetanus is an infection which causes muscle spasms. As most often these spasms begin in one's jaw, later progressing to the rest of the body, the infection is also called lockjaw.
The disease usually lasts from 2 weeks to a month. Its main manifestations are spasms, which occur frequently and last several minutes. In some tough cases the bones can be broken. Other symptoms may include fever, sweating, headache, trouble swallowing, high blood pressure, and a fast heart rate. Symptom expression may take place right after the infection or up to twenty days later. The treatment usually continues several months and about 10% of the cases have a fatal outcome.
More Info:
en.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
40 Comments
William Laughlin
Have you never heard of a tetanus shot? They are given in childhood in a series of vaccinations to help develop an immunity to the bacteria that come with a dirty wound. Tetanus shots may also be effective when given up to 48 hours after receiving such a wound. Booster shots are recommended every 10 years or so.
Ben Totuous
Rick Shomin, if you can't get lockjaw, maybe it's time to fit you with a muzzle and straightjacket. You always lash out at people with easily double your IQ. I don't know if you are calling out for mental help or what. But you sure need it.
Larry W. Jones
I am behind the times. I wasn't aware it could be treated. The mortality rate is rather discouraging. However, I cannot imagine bearing the symptoms. I have been through some some extremely serious injury and pain, but for all I have endured and survived, it doesn't compare to tetanus.
William Laughlin
Larry W. Jones You are absolutely correct, Larry. I was trying to be helpful by offering up information. Nothing more or less. Thank you for reassuring me.
William Laughlin
To which comment are you referring? My comment to Larry W. Jones certainly wasn't an attack. I asked a simple question, gave some additional information, and left it at that. No attack there.He responded cordially, apparently feeling no such personal attack against him. What was it I said that got your panties in a bunch?
Larry W. Jones
William Laughlin No, I certainly did not feel attacked. I consider you a wealth of information, and appreciated your concern for my health, if that is what was intended.
George Oliver Prince
Don't know how I avoided it as a kid, our family just didn't go to doctors, and I can't count the number of times i've been punctured by rusty nails, etc. At least I survived
Donna Kennedy
John, current recommendations are boosters every 10 years. It used to be that literally every time there was an incident that put one at risk, a tetanus shot was recommended. As the daughter of an RN, as well as a retired RN myself, I am glad that they are needed less often. They HURT!
Larry W. Jones
William Laughlin Oh, yeah. I have had more than I can count. I am married to a RN. She keeps me pretty well up to date on most things medical.
Coral
Donna Kennedy, the new advice according to NICE guidelines is four shots in a life time. I'm 65 and to my knowledge I've had three including the infant shots. Room for one more !
Savagemama
If u happened to get bit by a bat with rabies, u probably wouldn't know until it's too late to treat
Andy the educated troglodyte
Good medical question, Stevie and good, concise narrative
dlh
Thank God for tetanus shots!!
teresab
With initials of TB, of course I know the answer,
Jamie
Another example of a writer with no clue who hasn't done his research. Thick idiots die hard.
Carol Thomson
A lady I knew lost a daughter to it, many years ago Carl Belken,
Isabel Laing
A very serious disease. The spores can remain in the soil for years until they enter an animals body via a cut then the spore grows and the victim gets tetanus!!!
Carl Belken
I have a cousin I never met. He received a slight cut to his head in the days before the tetanus vaccine was invented and was dead within a few days of lockjaw.
jack patti go
Wowee! I never knew, all of this!
Annie
Knew this !
Val Wilkinson
silrem, I have never looked up the answer - do many people do that?
Suzanne Beer
Got it..
silrem
Congratulations to the people who got it wrong for their integrity. They DID NOT CHEAT AND LOOK IT UP BEFORE ANSWERING. I also expect they are on average younger than those who got it right as due to vaccinations and other health measures Lockjaw is rarer today than 60 years ago.
Eileen Dunn
Yes ,horrible thing to get.