Tetanus is an infectious disease transmitted by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which can be found in the soil, dust and feces of animals, as they inhabit their intestines.
Transmission of tetanus occurs when the spores of this bacterium, which are small structures not visible to the naked eye, come in contact with some open surface of the skin, such as deep wounds, burns or contact with contaminated objects. Thus, the best way to avoid contamination with tetanus is through vaccination, but it is also possible to prevent the disease by cleaning the cuts and scratches accordingly. Here's how to do wound dressing.
How it is transmitted
Although it is an infectious disease, tetanus is not transmitted from person to person. The most common ways to get tetanus are by:
- Dirty wounds with saliva or animal feces, for example;
- Wounds caused by piercing objects such as nails and needles;
- Lesions accompanied by necrotic tissue;
- Scratches caused by animals;
- Burns;
- Tattoos and piercings;
- Rusty objects.
In addition to the usual forms, tetanus can be contracted more rarely through superficial wounds, surgical procedures, infected insect bites, exposed fractures, intravenous drug use, dental infections, and intramuscular injections.
Transmission of tetanus occurs when the spores of its causative agent penetrate the skin through cuts, which can cause stiffness and muscle spasms. Learn about the symptoms of tetanus.
How to avoid
The most common and most important way to avoid tetanus is through vaccination in the first few months of life, which is performed in three doses and aims to stimulate the production of antibodies that defend the body against the causative agent of the disease. The effects of this vaccine do not last a lifetime, so you should take booster every 10 years. Learn more about tetanus vaccine.
Another way of prevention is through the dTpa vaccine, also called acellular triple bacterial adult vaccine, which guarantees protection against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough. See what the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine is for.
In addition, to prevent the occurrence of tetanus, it is important to pay attention to and care for injuries by keeping them covered and covered, to wash hands, to avoid delaying the healing process, and not to use shared piercing materials such as needles.
