Clostridium tetani: Clinical manifestations
Transmission
- Not transmitted from person to person, i.e. herd immunity is not protective
- A minimum lethal human dose of exotoxin is 2.5 ng/kg.
- The spores or bacteria enter the body through abrasions, wounds, or (in the case of neonates) the umbilical stump.
- Seen more often in the summer season and in hot, damp climates with soil rich in organic matter.
- Wounds contaminated with fecal matter and soil are most prone
May develop in chronic conditions:
- skin ulcer
- abscesses
- gangrene
- burns
- frost bite
- middle ear infection.
Also associated with :
- surgery
- abortion
- childbirth
- body piercing
- drug abuse notably skin popping
- open fracture etc.
Symptoms
- Symptoms are due to the effect of toxin.
- Tetanospasmin (neurotoxin) is responsible for tetanus.
- Tetanus is characterized by increased muscle tone (muscle spasm) and rigidity.
- Median time of onset after injury is 7 days.
- Period of onset in tetanus refers to the time between first symptom to spasm
- First symptom –
- Pain and tingling at the site of inoculation
- Early signs –Headache restlessness and irritability
- Increased tone in masseter muscles called as trismus/lock jaw.
- Dysphagia neck muscle spasm
Followed by Descending tetanus:
- Sequential involvement of nerves of head, trunk and extremities
- Short nerves affected first.
- Hand and feets relatively spared
Sinus sardonius:

- Spasms of facial and buccal muscles.
- Unimpaired mentation.
- Increased deep tendon reflex.
- Opisthotonos (Arched posture)
- Seizures
- Respiratory muscle spasm
- Autonomic dysfunction (sympathetic increase)
- Sudden cardiac death may occur
- Neonatal tetanus
- usually occurs as generalized form.
- Local tetanus
- only the nerves supplying the affected muscles are involved.
Cephalic tetanus:
- Rare form with high mortality
- May occur after head injury or ear infection.
Exam Important
Infection is acquired by
- Not transmitted from person to person , i.e. herd immunity is not protective
- Minimum lethal human dose of exotoxin is 2.5 ng/kg.
- Seen more often in the summer season and in hot, damp climates with soil rich in organic matter.
- Wounds contaminated with fecal matter and soil are most prone
Symptoms
- Symptoms are due to the effect of toxin.
- Tetanospasmin (neurotoxin) is responsible for tetanus.
- Median time of onset after injury is 7 days.
- Period of onset in tetanus refers to the time between first symptom to spasm
Sinus sardonius:
- Spasms of facial and buccal muscles.
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