TETANUS,causative agent,incubation period,types of tetanus and prevention.

Causative agents:-

Clostridium tetani,gram positive aerobic,spore bearing organism.

The spores are terminal and give organism a drum stick appearance.

- Reservoir of organism is soil and dust.

Incubation period:-

6-10 days

Tetanus bacilli produce exotoxin with astounding lethal capacity it effect motor end plate of skeletal system,spinal cord,brain and sympathetic system.

Infection is acquired by contamination of wound by spores.

Types of tetanus:-

Traumatic:-

Major cause of tetanus

Puerperal:-

Tetanus following abortion more frequently than normal labor.

Otogenic:-

It is a rare portal of entry, introduction of foreign material such as pencils matches and beads may introduces infection.

Idiopathic:-

There is no definite history of any injury.

Tetanus neonatorum:-

The common route of infection is umbilical stem after birth .First symptom being seen by 7th day of life .Clean delivery and cord care will help to reduce the incidence of tetanus neonatorum in new born baby.

Prevention:-

Active immunization with tetanus toxoid.