Tetanus nursing measures

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Tetanus Patient Care:

First, isolate the patient and maintain a quiet environment to minimize disturbances.

Second, communicate carefully with the patient to alleviate their anxiety and boost their confidence in overcoming the illness.

Third, install bed rails on both sides of the bed to prevent the patient from falling out. Additionally, use a mouth guard to prevent tongue injuries during spasms.

Fourth, pay attention to the care of the patient's oral cavity and skin to prevent the development of oral ulcers, skin breakdown, or pressure sores.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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chances of a person getting tetanus

Tetanus is a special type of infection that can enter the human body through skin, mucous membranes, or wounds and grows and reproduces in anaerobic conditions. The likelihood of a tetanus infection depends mainly on the depth and size of the wound, as well as what caused the wound. If the wound was caused by rusty nails or unclean sharp objects, and is both deep and large, the possibility of developing a tetanus infection is higher. Conversely, smaller or superficial wounds caused by relatively clean sharp objects are less likely to result in a tetanus infection.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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Is tetanus painful?

Tetanus is a specific infectious disease in surgery, caused by the exotoxin of Clostridium tetani. Tetanus infection can lead to rigid muscle spasms, which is a disease with a high mortality rate. Although its treatment is difficult, the prevention is effective, so tetanus infections can be avoided by vaccinating with the tetanus vaccine. The tetanus shot includes human tetanus immunoglobulin and tetanus antitoxin serum. The injection of human tetanus immunoglobulin is administered via muscle and is not very painful, generally tolerable. The injection of tetanus antitoxin serum, being a foreign protein to the body, requires an initial sensitivity test. The pain is evident, as the sensitivity test involves a skin prick.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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Which part of the body is the tetanus shot administered?

Tetanus injections are given as intramuscular injections in the upper arm or the buttock. Tetanus vaccines include tetanus antitoxin, which requires a skin test. Patients with a positive skin test must either undergo desensitization therapy or avoid using it, and can switch to tetanus immunoglobulin, which doesn't require a skin test but is more expensive than tetanus antitoxin. The purpose of the tetanus shot is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium. It is particularly important for patients with deep wounds or heavily contaminated wounds; or wounds contaminated with rust or soil to receive tetanus treatment to prevent Clostridium tetani from colonizing the body through wound mucosa and producing neurotoxins that affect breathing.

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Written by Gao Jun
Emergency Surgery
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Can tetanus be cured?

Tetanus has a high mortality rate from infection, but it is not incurable. Even in primitive tribes in Africa, as long as the patient can survive the initial complications such as respiratory muscle spasms leading to suffocation, heart failure, lung infections, etc., they may be lucky to survive. However, in our daily lives today, if we accidentally sustain skin injuries or abrasions, we must not take them lightly and should head to the hospital to follow the doctor's advice. If a tetanus antitoxin injection is needed, it must be administered. Do not neglect it due to inconvenience, as it may lead to severe consequences. The initial symptoms of tetanus might include general weakness, muscle soreness, and spasms of the chewing muscles, which can later lead to severe muscle contractions and forceful spasms throughout the body. The patient remains fully conscious and can painfully experience the disease. Most patients may die from complications such as respiratory muscle spasms, suffocation, heart failure, and lung infections.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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How to administer a tetanus shot if it is negative?

A negative tetanus needle test indicates that the patient is not allergic to the tetanus antitoxin and can continue with intramuscular injections, typically administered in the upper arm or buttock muscles, in doses ranging from 1000 to 3000 units each time. If the infection is severe or the tetanus injection is not timely, the dosage may be appropriately increased, generally by one to two times. The purpose of administering tetanus antitoxin treatment is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium. For patients with deep wounds or heavily contaminated wounds, such as those contaminated with soil or rust, Clostridium tetani can easily colonize. Therefore, for such patients, it is essential to perform tetanus antitoxin treatment while cleaning and dressing the wound.