The sight of a rusty nail popping through your floorboard may spark the question, when was your last tetanus shot?
It is also important to ask yourself that question before doing simple activities, like gardening and landscaping.
Tetanus is picked up from a crack or puncture in the skin that comes in contact with soil, dust, animal waste, insect bites, or anything else carrying the disease, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. A tetanus infection causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body, leading to "locking" of the jaw and making it impossible to open your mouth or swallow. Symptoms can also include seizures, headaches and fevers.
“The potential for infection is high because many people have puncture
…show more content…
According to the AAP, a shiny nail is just as likely to give you tetanus as a rusty one.
Clostridium tetani are the bacteria to blame for the Tetanus disease. The Encyclopedia of Human Diseases and Conditions states that the infection begins when the bacteria spores become active after moving deep within the body. Once the tetanus spores are active, they begin producing a toxin that attaches to the nerves around the area of the wound. The tetanus toxin spreads to the ends of the nerves of the spinal cord where they meet the muscles, resulting in severe muscle spasms powerful enough to tear muscles apart.
Luckily, there is a very effective vaccination widely available in the United States for tetanus that aids in the prevention of this disease.
“Tetanus is a disease that is easily preventable with vaccines, and because of the severity of it and potential for severe complications, it is a disease you don 't want to experience,” states Dr. Orwig. “Children are vaccinated for tetanus from two months to five years and again at twelve years old. Adults are given a booster every seven to ten years after