What is tetanus?

Tetanus is a severe disease infection caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. this bacterium can be found throughout the world in the soil and in animal and human intestines. the disease may result in stiffness of one’s jaw muscles and other muscles.

The infection causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to “locking” of the jaw, which makes it impossible to open your mouth or swallow. If this happens, you could die of suffocation.

If you get tetanus, there is usually a long course of treatment. the tetanus vaccine can prevent tetanus but its protection does not last forever. Adults should get a tetanus shot, or booster, every 10 years. If you get a bad cut or burn, see your doctor–you may need a booster.

What are the signs and symptoms?

• Symptoms may include:

– Headache– Stiffness of the jaw (lockjaw)– Severe muscle spasms– Sweating– Fever– Stiffness of abdominal muscles– Difficulty swallowing

• Lockjaw is one of the most dangerous symptoms because it can lead to death by suffocation

• Symptoms usually begin about 8 days after infection, but may range in onset from 3 days to 3 weeks

What cause tetanus?

Tetanus is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani, which is found in soil and animal manure. Spores of the bacteria are picked up when a wound is contaminated by, for example, garden soil. the wound may go unnoticed and the infection may not seem severe, but the bacteria release a poison called a neurotoxin that attacks the nervous system and causes problems such as muscle spasm.

Anyone who has a contaminated wound may develop tetanus. Farmers and those working with soil are at increased risk. in developing countries, the custom of dressing a newborn baby’s umbilical cord stump with animal dung often leads to neonatal tetanus.

If you suspect tetanus, get urgent medical help.

The diagnosis is usually clear from the symptoms and history. the bacteria may be detected in the wound, but as tetanus is a medical emergency treatment is usually started based on symptoms alone.

What are the complications?

In four out of 10 people tetanus causes death. Spasms or convulsions may be violent and you can stop breathing or have a heart attack. Other complications of tetanus include:

• pneumonia (lung infection) and other infections

• fractures – due to spasms or convulsions

• breathing problems

• muscle problems (rhabdomyolysis)

• coma

Treatment

In most cases of tetanus, the illness is severe, and there’s a risk of death despite treatment. Death may result from constriction of airways, pneumonia or instability in the autonomic nervous system. the autonomic nervous system is the part of your nervous system that controls your heart muscles, other involuntary muscles and glands.

Treatment may consist of certain medications, as well as supportive care.

Medications

• Antitoxin. your doctor may give you a tetanus antitoxin, such as tetanus immune globulin (TIG). However, the antitoxin can neutralize only toxin that hasn’t yet combined with nerve tissue.

• Antibiotics. your doctor may also give you antibiotics, either orally or by injection, to fight tetanus bacteria.

• Vaccine. You’ll also need to receive a tetanus vaccine in order to prevent future tetanus infection.

Supportive therapies

Tetanus infection often requires a long period of treatment in an intensive care setting. you may need drugs to sedate you and to paralyze your muscles, and that may result in shallow breathing that needs to be supported temporarily by a ventilator.

People who’ve had tetanus often recover completely. However, some people have lasting effects, such as brain damage caused by a lack of oxygen when muscle spasms in the throat cut off the airway.

Prevention

Vaccination

There is a vaccine to prevent tetanus. this is given in the arm or the thigh. you will need three doses of the vaccine with a months break between each when you are first vaccinated. in the UK, this is usually given to babies when they are two, three and four months old.

Children will then receive a booster when they are about three, usually at pre-school entry, and again 10 years later before they leave school. you should then have protection from tetanus for life. you may need a booster of tetanus if you are travelling abroad and haven’t had a booster in the last 10 years. ask your GP for advice.

If you were not immunised as a child you can get the first three doses of the vaccine at any age. you will then need a booster 10 years later. Generally, only five doses of the vaccine are needed to protect you for life.

Women can be given the tetanus jab during pregnancy to prevent tetanus.

If you have had tetanus you can get it again and need to be immunised.

If you have a cut and haven’t been immunised

If you have a cut or weeping wound, such as a burn, and you haven’t ever had a vaccination or haven’t had a tetanus jab for more than 10 years, you need to have a booster dose of tetanus as a precaution. you may also be given a dose of tetanus immunoglobulin which are proteins (antibodies) to help your body fight any tetanus infection you might develop.

Consult your doctor with these questions

Are my immunizations up-to-date?

Is there a test after an injury that can determine if the tetanus disease is present?

Are there any reactions or side effects to tetanus vaccine?

If tetanus is present, what is the success rate of eliminating the disease and its toxins?

Are there any after effects or any residual conditions left by the disease?

1. Yellow Fever: a potentially fatal viral infection
2. Anthrax – an infectious disease
3. Endemic Infectious Disease: African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
4. Bites and stings from dangerous animals

A panic attack is a sudden fear of impending doom.
The sufferer may feel like the are away to faint, have a stroke or heart attack or may even feel they may die.
Heart palpitations, shortness of breath, feelings of suffocation.
Tingles.
Sudden need to go to the bathroom.
The need to flee wherever they are.
Crying (usually occurs afterwards)
Not knowing what to do/confusion
Sweating
light headedness
Feeling unreal or that you do not exist
Hot flushes/blotchy skin/loss of colour

Just sheer panic.

EDIT:
How many panic attacks are you suffering a day? Or do you feel like this all the time? is there something that starts it off, like a phobia? you may have a panic disorder/anxiety disorder/phobic disorder.

You will need to see your doctor so he can rule out any physical reasons why you feel this way, but most likely you are suffering from some sort of anxiety.
And see the doctor asap. these disorders only get worse and more deepset if ignored.

Panic attacks are intense periods of fear or feelings of doom developing over a very short time frame — up to 30 minutes — and associated with at least four of the following:

Sudden overwhelming fear
Palpitations
Sweating
Trembling
Shortness of breath
Sense of choking
Chest pain
Nausea
Dizziness
A feeling of being detached from the world (derealization)
Fear of dying
Numbness or tingling in the limbs or entire body
Chills or hot flushes

If there is no physical cause for these symptoms it is determined to be a panic atatck.

See your doctor as soon as you can. if you think you're having a panic attack and it's lasting a few days straight, something's definitely not right. Hopefully a doc can help you sort out what triggered it and you can prevent another one from happening in the future, or at least have medicine prescribed that can help you.

One symptom would be panicking.

I'm 12 years old and i think i might have the whooping cough, i'm not sure. I still have'nt gotten my TDAP shot, but i was supposed to next week. Is the disease contagious? How long does it last? I've been coughing, having a sore throat, etc. I started feeling sick 4 days ago. its worse at night and in the very morning.help.

usually, a mild fever in the first week. you'll have a scratchy throat. and coughing. later, you'll start choking when you cough. these choking attacks can last up to 1 or 2 minutes. vomiting and suffocation can occur. only 50% of people with whooping cough whoop.

i'm not making this up to scare you. believe me. i have whooping cough right now. ever since the 28th of june. i went to this one website. it will really help you. much better than i can. just go to the website below and click enter. i'm not some spammer tricking you for your email.

Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel-burning appliances are incorrectly fitted, badly repaired, poorly maintained or if flues, chimneys or vents are blocked. It is odourless, tasteless and colourless, which makes it difficult to detect.

Symptoms include vomiting, headaches, nausea, muscle aches and exhaustion, while high levels of carbon monoxide can cause suffocation within hours.

People are most at risk during the winter months due to the increased use of boilers and central heating.

In fact 84 per cent of all carbon monoxide deaths in the UK occur during the period from November to March. However, because the symptoms are unspecific, it is often confused with common winter bugs and infections such as the norovirus.

?Unfortunately, the symptoms can be very vague and easily mistaken for flu,? explains Daily Express GP Rosemary Leonard. ?They can also include sore throats and dizziness but people don?t tend to get the high temperature associated with common bugs or infections so that is a sign to look out for.

?When doctors suspect patients may have been exposed to carbon monoxide a quick blood test will rule it out. if there are high levels of carbon monoxide present then the patient needs to be given oxygen to re-oxygenate the blood.

?In some cases this can mean a hospital stay. Long-term exposure to low amounts can have lasting effects such as heart damage.

?Other patients may suffer confusion and memory loss which will in most cases come back in time.?

Making sure your home is well ventilated is vital and experts recommend homeowners regularly check their flue is not blocked and check the colour of flames in gas appliances. A bright orange flame should be checked immediately.

?Appliances should be serviced regularly to ensure they are working properly,? says Tim Jack. ?Everyone should check their flue is clear of debris and blockages and if you are feeling ill in any way ask your doctor for a COHb (carboxy-haemoglobin) test.

?Purchase a certified audible carbon monoxide detector. there are some very cheap ones on the market but many don?t have a loud alarm and don?t alert to the dangers in time.

?When buying an alarm look for the certified number EN 50291 on the front of the unit, usually in ink or printed on a sticker.?

For further advice visit becarbonmonoxideaware.com or cogdem.org.uk