This is general presentation which can be used by anyone. It contains short information about the history, mode of transmission of tetanus in human beings and what are the health problems due to tetanus in human beings. All the information is gathered from reliable sources and references are also given at the end of the presentation. it can be used by anyone for educational purposes.

1. TETANUS
PRESENTED BY: LAILA BATTOOL

2. HISTORY
• It was in 1884 when tetanus was first produced in animals by injecting them with
pus from a fatal human tetanus case.
• During the same year, tetanus was produced in animals by injecting them with
samples of soil.
• Tetanus is a disease of the nervous system caused by bacteria called Clostridium
tetani.
• When these bacteria enter the body, they produce a toxin that causes painful muscle
contractions.
• This bacterium produces two exotoxins, one of which (tetanospasmin) is a
neurotoxin that causes the symptoms of tetanus.

3. TRANSMISSION
• Tetanus is not passed from person to person.
• It is unusual among vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Tetanus is transmitted through the entry of Clostridium tetani bacteria into
injured skin and underlying tissues.
• Surprisingly, tetanus infection is more likely from a minor wound than a
major one, but this is because severe wounds are more likely to be properly
treated and cleaned.
• The incubation period is between three and 21 days.

4. Bacterium Enters
body through wound
Spores germinate in anaerobic
conditions
Toxin binds in central nervous
system
Interferes with neurotransmitter release
to block inhibitor impulses
Leads to unopposed muscle
contraction and spasm
TRANSMISSION

5. PROBLEMS
The early symptoms of the disease are:
Lockjaw (the most recognizable of its physical effects),
Stiffness, and problems swallowing.
Later symptoms include:
 severe muscle spasms
seizure-like activity
severe nervous system disorders.

6. CONT…..
 Generally, between 10% and 20% of tetanus cases result in death, more
likely among patients older than 60 years of age, and among unimmunized
individuals.
 In the most common type of reported tetanus (“generalized tetanus”),
continue for 3-4 weeks, and recovery may take months.
 Neonatal tetanus refers to a case of tetanus in a newborn infant whose
mother was not immune to the disease.

7. REFERENCES
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/clostridium-tetani
 https://sites.miamioh.edu/hst-journeys/2019/05/medicine-and-disease-in-history-
tetanus/
 https://historyofvaccines.org/diseases/tetanus
 who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tetanus