Why is tetanus so dangerous?
Every year a few people die from tetanus in Belgium. What actually is tetanus and what can you do about it?
A tetanus infection is caused by the tetanus bacteria entering your body through a wound. The bacteria are normally found in soil, street dirt and horse manure. There is a risk of infection with the tetanus bacteria, especially in deep wounds and burns.
Because the tetanus bacteria produce a toxin, the muscles of infected people will cramp severely. This first starts with the jaw muscles and continues in the neck and arm muscles and finally the back muscles. If treatment cannot be started on time, the respiratory muscles and heart muscle will also be affected. Half of the affected people do not survive the infection.
However, you can prevent the infection in a simple way. A vaccination every ten years is sufficient to protect you. But even if you have been vaccinated, you must continue to disinfect deep and dirty wounds.
Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025
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