One time we were attending a Yee family lunch at my mother-in-law’s house, many years ago when my son was only about 4 years old, I saw my son stopped playing outside and instead, he lied down quietly on the sofa. I didn’t think something was wrong. Only when I ran my fingers through his hair, I saw blood. When I looked closer, there was a long open wound on his crown, about one inch.
When I asked what happened, he pointed at the steel casement window outside of the house. Apparently, he walked closer to the window and his head hit the bottom part which pierced thru his skin. how deep I didn’t know. The window’s steel frame had plenty of rusts (kalawang).
I panicked and carried him. Edmund and I immediately brought him to Medical City which was still in the old location near St. Francis Church.
After cleaning his wound the doctor injected an anti-tetanus vaccine. I no longer remember how many shots my son had or if we ever went back for a booster.
Now that I am reliving this story makes me nervous and scared.
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The brother of my former office staff died from tetanus infection. His family didn’t know that it was tetanus. He had lockjaw and was rushed to the emergency. Since they lived 30 kilometers away from the bigger hospital in Manila, it took them two and a half hours to reach the hospital.
He died after a few hours. He was 45.
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Tetanus is a disease caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria and must be taken seriously. It leads to death if not properly addressed.
One can get this bacteria anywhere. They are common in the soil, farm manure, gardens, flood waters, even in ordinary dusts around us.
“The bacteria can enter the body through an open wound, cut, scrape or some other break in the skin. Once inside, they multiply and produce a toxin, or poison, that affects the body’s nerves. This toxin causes severe muscle spasms, cramps and seizures. Spasms in the jaw muscles produce lockjaw. Spasms also occur in muscles of the throat, chest, abdomen and extremities. If you don’t receive proper treatment, the toxin’s effect on respiratory muscles can interfere with breathing. If this happens, you may die of suffocation”.
“A tetanus infection may develop after almost any type of skin injury, major or minor. This includes cuts, punctures, crush injuries, burns and animal bites. In rare cases, a tetanus infection also can occur after surgery, an ear infection, a dental infection or an abortion. Tetanus also can develop after body piercing, tattooing, an insect sting or even a tiny splinter”.
Symptoms
On average, symptoms of tetanus begin seven to eight days after tetanus bacteria enter the body. These symptoms may include:
Spasms in the jaw muscles (lockjaw)
Stiff muscles in the neck, shoulder and back
Difficulty swallowing
Prolonged contraction of the facial muscles, which may produce what looks like a sneer or grimace
An arched back resulting from contraction of the back muscles
Muscle spasms and muscle rigidity in the chest, abdomen and extremities
Fever and profuse sweating
High blood pressure
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Seizures
Difficulty breathing
Fractured bones and ruptured muscles caused by severe muscle spasms
People who have tetanus must be treated in a hospital. Severe muscle spasms may last for about three to four weeks and then slowly get better. Once these spasms subside, recovery takes several months.
(source of info: drugs.com)
Attention young moms or would-be moms:
Babies must be vaccinated. The pediatrician will give you the schedule of shots. Don’t miss it.
