Tetanus

Question 1

Tetanus Vaccine for children

Answer 1

DTaP, DT (remember capital letter = larger dose)

child is defined as < 7 years old

Question 2

Tetanus Vaccine for adults

Answer 2

Td, Tdap (remember capital letter = larger dose)

Question 3

Tetanus “T’s”

Answer 3

Tetani: spasm
Top to bottom (descending pattern)
Clostridium Tetani (gram + anaerobic rod)
Trismus (lockjaw)
No test to diagnos
Tetanus Toxoid (vaccine), Tetanus Immune Globulin to treat

Question 4

Trismus

Answer 4

Lock jaw: symptom of tetanus

Question 5

Tetanus description

Answer 5

Exotoxin: rigidity, muscle spasm
Bacterium: Clostridium Tetani
Spores are highly resistant
Harbored in animal feces and soil: think rusty nail
Vaccine preventable

Question 6

Tetanus pathogenesis

Answer 6

Usually contracted via wound
Have been outbreaks from drug users, nat disasters
Incubation period: 3-21 days, 4-14 neonatal

Question 7

Tetanus complication

Answer 7

laryngospasm
fractures
hypertension
nosocomial infections
pulmonary embolism
aspiration pneumonia
death

Question 8

Tetanus clinical patterns

Answer 8

Generalized type: 80%
- descending pattern: trismus, diff. swallowing, rigidity
-fever, sweating
-trismus (lockjaw)
-spasms
-recovery may take months
Neonatal Generalized Type
-from a mother not immune
-infected umbilical cord
-rare in US