Tetanus in Children: Symptoms and Treatment
Tetanus is a disease that is fought with the vaccine, but what are the symptoms and treatment in children?
Tetanus is a very serious disease , which if not detected in time can cause the death of the affected person, in this case, the child. It appears as a result of a wound in contact with the bacterium Clostridium tetani , a very common spore-shaped microorganism in soil, manure, rust, etc. The child can also be infected through wounds made with rusty objects, through an animal bite or a burn.
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WHAT HARM DOES TETANUS CAUSE IN CHILDREN?
Tetanus disease mainly affects the proper functioning of the nervous system , damaging it with a toxin, tetanospamine, produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. When it comes into contact with the sympathetic nervous system, it causes rapid heartbeat, hypertension, or fever.
In addition, when the bacteria begin to reproduce within the wound where the contagion occurred, it produces said toxin, which reaches the spinal cord, damaging various types of neurons, contracting the muscles closest to the area and causing spasms. strong enough to be able to break a child’s spine or bones.
WHAT SYMPTOMS DOES TETANUS HAVE IN CHILDREN?
It is vitally important to know the symptoms that tetanus produces in children, since if this disease is not caught in time, the bacteria will move through the bloodstream and the lymphatic system, contaminating the nerves throughout the body, even reaching to be deadly. Therefore, some of the most common symptoms or signs to look out for are:
– Cramps in the jaw , also known as lockjaw.
– Sudden and involuntary muscle spasms , these spasms can affect the muscles of the abdomen, the upper arm, the neck, the back and even the jaw.
– Severe headaches .
– Difficulty swallowing or breathing , as a result of cramps in the jaw.
– Stiffness or pain in the neck, shoulders and back.
– Other symptoms can also be : excessive sweating, drooling, fever, spasms in the hands or feet, hypertension and inability to control urination and defecation.
WHAT IS NEONATAL TETANUS?
Neonatal tetanus is a type of tetanus that occurs in newborns when the mother is not vaccinated , generally due to being in dirty and unsanitary places, the umbilical cord becomes infected and contagion occurs.
This type of tetanus was very common in ancient times. It is currently less common, since tetanus immunizers produce antibodies that the mother transmits to the baby during pregnancy, in addition to the better conditions in which delivery occurs, increased hygiene in this and subsequent processes.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR TETANUS?
Treatment for this disease will depend on the time that has elapsed since the child’s infection. It is usually treated with antibiotics, drugs that neutralize the toxic produced by the bacteria, muscle relaxants, sedatives, etc. Although the most recommended by health specialists is to perform a surgery to clean, disinfect the wound and eliminate the source of toxic production, in addition to its subsequent vaccination.
THE TETANUS VACCINE.
Having previously suffered from tetanus does not protect the child from a new infection , so it is very important that the three full doses of the tetanus vaccine are given. As a general rule, the first three doses of said vaccine are administered during the first year of life, more specifically at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. The second between 15 and 18 months. The penultimate when the child turns 6 and the last between 11 or 12 years.
Several doctors recommend giving a ” booster ” dose every 10 years when the child reaches 19, but it is not required; Unless 10 years have passed since the last dose and you have sustained a potentially dangerous injury. In that case, the complete vaccination will have to be repeated.
DOES THE TETANUS VACCINE CAUSE SIDE EFFECTS IN CHILDREN?
Tetanus vaccines are safe and very effective , and they have rarely caused side effects . The few children who have shown these effects had: inflammation, redness and pain at the injection site, fever and vomiting.
WHAT TYPES OF TETANUS VACCINES ARE THERE?
There are several types of tetanus vaccine depending on the age of the person, since the protective effect of this vaccine decreases over time. These three subtypes of the tetanus vaccine are:
– For children under 7 years of age, DTaP (against diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis).
– For children over 7 years or adults the Tdap (vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis).
– For older children or adults also Td (against tetanus and diphtheria), generally used as a ” booster ” vaccine every 10 years.
WHY SHOULD MY CHILD GET A TETANUS SHOT?
As we have said before, tetanus is a very serious disease. Medical statistics say that one in five people who get tetanus dies. In addition, their recovery can take months, even all of them need to be admitted to a hospital under medical supervision and supervision. Therefore, it is recommended that all children receive this vaccine, since it:
– Protects you from being infected with tetanus, as well as diphtheria , whooping cough and everything that leads to these diseases.
– Facilitates their quality of life .
– If she is a girl, in the future when she is pregnant, she will produce antibodies that will be passed to her baby, protecting her from neonatal tetanus ; which is always deadly.
– It can be administered together with the triple virus , whose protection against whooping cough can help manage the latest outbreaks in the country.
– With just 3 doses of the tetanus vaccine, you are immunized for at least 10 years.
– With 5 doses throughout your life you will be fully immunized.
– There is a much higher level of risk if you get tetanus than when you get the vaccine.
– In very few cases it causes side effects in children.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.