Tetanus: Types, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Introduction

Tetanus is a serious and fatal disease caused by bacterial toxin produced by the bacterium tetani and affects the nervous system. A cut or wound on the skin are infected by the bacteria, which is generally found in agricultural soil, intestines and feces of various animals including rats, dogs, cats, chickens, guinea pigs. Infection may cause severe muscle spasms including locking of jaw.

Clostridium Tetani

C. tetani is a gram-positive, anaerobic, spore forming bacteria. These spores are found in manure, agricultural soils, feces of animals and can survive for month to years. The spores are resistant to heat and antiseptic and can survive a few minutes at more than 100 degree centigrade. The toxin produced by C. tetani is tetanolysin and tetanospasmin. Tetanospasmin acts as neutroxin and causes the disease tetanus.

Neonatal Tetanus

This forms of tetanus occurs in newborn infants, born without protective passive immune. Neonatal tetanus occurs through infection of the unhealed umbilical stump, especially when the stump is cut with an unsterlite knife or blade. This is common in some of the developing countries and developed countries report a few tetanus cases.

Incubation Period

The incubation for neonates varies from 4 to 14 days; however the incubation for adults may vary from 3 days to 15 weeks. The incubation period depends on the distance of wound from central nervous system and severity of wounds. A deep wound may allow bacteria to attain its full strength and may cause severe infection and result may be more fatal.

Symptoms

• The first early symptoms of tetanus may be the jaw spasm also called lockjaw. This causes difficulty in moving jaw muscles and eating and swallowing.
• The other symptoms follow lockjaw includes stiffness in neck and back and rigidity in muscles of abdomen.
• he muscular spasms may expand to throughout of the body and sometimes may even cause muscle tears.
• Body temperature rises 2 to 4 degree centigrade and sweating occurs.
• Rise in blood pressure and heart rate are additional symptoms of tetanus.

Wound Care and Treatment

The wound must be cleaned and infected tissues should be taken out to reduce the bacteria. If wounds are deep and the patient had earlier taken zero to two doses of tetanus toxoid, should be given TIG as well as Td toxoid.

Recovery and Mortality:

• Initial recovery in muscle may begin within 3 to 4 weeks but complete recovery may take months and in some cases up to one year or more than one.
• Mortality rate may be high and highest mortality rate is in some of the developing countries.

Complication in tetanus

• The vocal cord spasm and muscle spasm may lead to respiration problem.
• Contractions and convulsions in muscle may lead to fracture of the spine or long bones.
• Nervous system abnormality may led to hypertension and abnormal heart rhythm.
• Prolonged hospitalization can lead to Nosocomial infections. Secondary infection may also cause sepsis from catheters and decubitus ulcers.
• A common late complication of tetanus is aspiration pneumonia and found in majority of autopsied cases.

Prevention

All children should be vaccinated. Tetanus vaccines are available worldwide and booster vaccines should be recommended at every 10-year interval. If a person suffers a wound and he or she is unable to remember, when he or she has earlier vaccinated, the person should be vaccinated with a tetanus booster DTaP.

Summary: Tetanus is a serious and fatal disease with high mortality rate. To prevent, vaccinations should be given to the children as per the plan and should not be stopped in middle. At the interval of 10 years tetanus boosters should be taken to avoid the fatal disease.

Typhoid: Information, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Introduction

Typhoid is caused by bacterium salmonella typhi. Bacterium salmonella typhi is only finding in human and is responsible for causing the infectious feverish disease, if not properly treated may lead to serious illness and even sometimes the disease may be fatal.

The bacteria are found only in humans, and are passed to the human by a carrier of bacteria through water or food.

Hygiene and Disease

Hygiene and sanitary conditions determines the spread of typhoid. Poor hygiene and sanitary conditions in some part of the developing countries , large parts of Asia, Africa, Central and South Africa are responsible for spread of typhoid in these areas. Due to the good hygienic conditions and sanitary conditions in some parts of Europe and US, rare hypoid cases are reported in this part of the world.

The storage of food and food preparation procedure is also a factor for proper hygiene. If any bacteria are present in food before preparation or during storage, it should not multiply.

Incubation Period

if some one is exposed to sufficient enough quantity of bacteria capable to cause typhoid, the symptoms of the disease may not start immediately. The days required to begin the symptoms from the day, the person is exposed to bacteria is known as incubation period. Incubation period for typhoid is ten to twenty days and will depend on various factors including the quantity of bacteria, the age and other health conditions of patients.

If after incubation period, mild symptoms appear, the bacteria may be eliminated by mild therapy and the person may become a healthy carrier of the bacteria and infection.

Symptoms of Typhoid

Typhoid is a serious feverish disease and fever is primary symptom of the disease. Some other symptoms include digestive system and small-bowl symptoms if the disease enters in the second phase.

Phases of typhoid fever

There are two phases of the disease as mentioned below.

First Phase: The child's temperature rises slowly to 40 degree centigrade and the condition of child deteriorates continuously and develops additional symptoms such as appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea, low feeding, coughing, and sweating. Some additional skin symptoms may also develop.

Second Phase: The first phase may be as long as one week and at the end of the week, the child may develop symptoms of intestinal infection. The temperature of the child remains high for second to third week. In the third week, the child also develops severe diarrhea.

Treatment

Various antibiotics are available in the market and after monitoring the symptoms the doctor will recommend appropriate antibiotic and monitor the effect of antibiotic in-patient for a few days or until the condition of patient is stable. It is also advised the maintaining good hygienic and sanitary conditions will prevent the recurrence of the disease.

Prevention

if you suspect a potential typhoid exposure, you should take a vaccine or oral medicine to protect you from infection of salmonella typhi at least two weeks prior. The inject able vaccines has very few side effect and the injection is efficient for three years.

Summary: Typhoid is a serious disease caused by bacteria salmonella typhi and is common in developing countries where unhygienic conditions prevail. The bacterial infection takes place from human and if infected, a proper treatment of antibiotic should be taken.

Varicella or Chicken Pox: Symptoms, Complications and Risk Factors

What is Varicella?

Varicella or "chickenpox" is a benign, self-limited, infection produced primarily by the varicella-zoster virus, a herpes virus. It infected near four million children each year only in the United Sates, causing more than four thousands hospitalizations per year and causing near one hundred deaths per year.

How a child can be infected with varicella?

• The disease is produce by inhalation of virus infected respiratory secretions or by direct contact with skin lesions produced due to the virus.The child can get this virus simply by playing with other infected child in home, the school or kindergarten.
• The ages that most frequently the infection occurs in infants are between three to six years old. An example of this, of all the reported cases ninety-five percent were children belonging to this age range, and only the five percent of the reported cases were in older children.
• It can affect girls and boys without significant statistical differences.
• The statistics says that between the months from August to October is the peak period of reported Varicella cases in children during a normal year.

What are primary viremia and secondary viremia?

• Primary viremia is the first time infection with the varicella-zoster virus; the infected person is usually a healthy child.
• Secondary viremia occurs when viral particles begin to spread on the skin causing the typical skin blisters associated with this virus.

What are the most frequent symptoms of chickenpox virus infection in a child?

During the late primary viremia:

• Headache
• Anorexia
• Fever, usually can be very high
• General malaise

During the secondary viremia:

• Erupting lesions beginning first on the trunk and then spreading to other parts: scalp, arms and legs.
• The first presentation of this skin lesion occurs a few days the general malaise and high fever appeared and the lesions begin as red maculae and then will become .
• A general rash is presented that in occasions is very itchy.

The blister lesions also can occur into the mouth, especially, into the throat and tonsils.

What are the most frequent complications of chickenpox?

• Pneumonia
• Encephalitis
• Hepatitis

Neonate chicken pox

• Neonatal varicella is caused by maternal virus infection, leading to spread of the virus across the placenta.
• Varicella during the first three months of pregnant can induce serious malformations to the fetus that could be shown as congenital malformation like abnormalities in the ocular structures and nervous system, limb atrophies and possible growth retardation.
• Neonates born from infected women during five days before delivery or fewer than two days postpartum can be infected by the also dangerous Varicella Neonatorum; this is a disseminated manifestation of the virus in the baby that could cause severe and hemorrhagic lesions in the lungs and the liver, making this a potentially fatal disease.

What are the risk factors?

• Your baby is at higher risk if never has had this disease.
• Your child is at higher risk if he/she is under a immunosuppressant therapy
• Vaccine is the most useful manner to prevent varicella disease; if he/she is not vaccinated then he/she is at higher risk.

What the mother can do to relief the symptoms of her baby?

• Never use aspirin to down the fever; it could cause a severe condition named Reyes Syndrome, rather than aspirin she should use acetaminophen.
• Give the child to drink sufficient liquids as she does when the baby has flu.
• Keep the baby with his/her hands and feet covered with socks to prevent the infant to scratch his/her skin blisters.

Summary: The chicken pox is a very frequent disease in infants between the ages from three to six years old. Although this infection is regularly a benign and self-limited, it can get worse especially in inmunosupressed patients and in newborns.

Baby's Diseases: How to Protect your Child

If you think that diseases are only for adults, think again! Babies are prone to a host of diseases and are more susceptible to them than adults. That is why it is very critical for parents to immunize their babies against these diseases at the right time. Neglecting to do so might make you regret it for a long time to come. It is important for parents to keep a chart in order to track when and what injections should be given. Otherwise it can get quite confusing and you may end up missing out on a particular vaccination. If you are keen to know more details about these diseases, their symptoms and how to avoid them or cure them, please browse through the links provided for you along the left panel on our site.

So what are the common but dangerous diseases that babies should be protected against? We will go through a few of them in brief just to give you an overview.

Chicken Pox is one of the most common diseases that children get especially between the ages of 3 and 6. It is caused by a virus and though it is not highly dangerous, sufficient care should be taken during the infection period. A child can get this infection just by being in contact with another person who is infected.

Typhoid is quite a serious condition because if it is not treated properly and at the right time, it can lead to various complications. This bacteria is mainly transmitted to humans from contaminated food and water. Fever is the most common symptom of this disease and it can be treated with antibiotics. Vaccinations are also available these days and should be taken every three years.

Tetanus is a fatal disease again cause by bacteria which affects the nervous system in the human body. It is mainly contracted through a wound which comes in contact with soil or grime which contains animal feces. The main symptom is locked jaw. To prevent tetanus, any wound should be cleaned immediately with antiseptic lotion and it is best to get a tetanus shot to be on the safe side.

Polio is another disease that can be prevented in children by giving the vaccinations at the proper time. It is a virus which affects the nervous system and leads to paralysis. From the time a bay is born till the age of six, a child should ideally receive four doses of the Polio vaccine.

Then there are others like Mumps, Measles and Diphtheria for all of which vaccines are available. Small-pox has been eradicated and therefore vaccines are not given these days though it is available.

Parents should ensure that they do not miss the boosters for the vaccinations that the children are taking. They should follow the plan given by the doctors and should not drop it in between. If proper care is taken, many of these diseases can be avoided. We encourage you to read more of these diseases so as to prevent your children from contracting the same.

Baby’s Carriage

One of the most important and significant purchases that you will ever make for your baby is to purchase a baby stroller or carriage for him or her. They are so many carriages on the market today, how do you know which one to select. They key to remember is to shop around and make sure you find one that is safe and comfortable for both baby and you.

Types of Carriages

They are many types of carriages; they come in different styles, forms, sizes, and in level of abilities. In some cases, you may need to purchase more than one carriage to meet baby’s different and changing needs. Strollers or carriages fall into a few major categories, based on these you can make an educated decision on what to purchase.

Carriage- This is usually a large, heavy stroller. It usually has a reclining back, a padded seat, canopy, and a large basket. These carriages feature large wheels for a smooth ride. As the baby grows, it will be able to adjust and become an upright seat. These are the best for infants.

Umbrella- These are lightweight easy to carry and very inexpensive. They fold easily and can fit in small spaces for quick storage. It consists of a pouch that you can sling around the metal frame, with an umbrella. Sometimes it has a canopy or basket. These models if you place too much stuff on them, can tip over, so you must be careful.

Standard-This is usually the family’s main carriage. The standard carriage can offer a partial or a fully reclining seat and a well-covered seat. It has a double set of wheels for an easy ride, and ease of moving around.

Lightweight-These carriages are a combination of a convenience with all the features of a standard carriage. They are made of aluminum, and is very sturdy. It is very portable and comes with a reclining seat. These types are generally more expensive.

Jogging-These types of carriages are built for parents who want to jog around with their babies. They are light weight and feature three large types of tires. They roll very smoothly and they come with shock absorbers and brakes. These are great for parents who love to exercise and want their kids to exercise with them.

Safety Tips

When using a carriage, remember the following safety tips:

• Make sure that the hand rest and seat are in the reclined carriage position.
• When you are folding and unfolding the carriage, keep the baby away from it, accidents can happen.
• Make sure you secure the seat belts on the carriage, you don’t want your child slipping out.
• Never leave a baby unattended in the carriage.
• Never use a pillow, quilt or blanket as a mattress in a carriage, kids can get tangled up in it, and suffocate easily while sleeping in the carriage.

While they are many types of carriages, you have to keep some things in mind. Make sure that the metal frame is strong and sturdy. Check out all four of the wheels on the carriage, they should be touching the floor, and it should not rock back and forth and be unstable. The seat should be covered and well padded. Make sure that the carriage offers a smooth ride for the child. Check consumer reports and make sure that they are no recalls or safety defects with the carriage that you are looking to purchase. Remember that the most important thing is safety first when deciding on the type of carriage to purchase for you and your child.

Consumer Guide for Baby Back Packs:-
Click here to read Baby Backpacks Review Guide: Everything You Need To Know About Carrying Your Baby!