Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is caused by the Clostridium tetani bacterium which produces a neurotoxin. Infection generally occurs through wound contamination, especially deep puncture wounds. Symptoms include prolonged muscle contractions starting in the jaw. While once common, tetanus remains an issue in developing countries where 800,000-1,000,000 deaths occur annually, mostly in Africa and Southeast Asia.

1. ?What is tetanus & its causes
By
Amin Abusallamah

2. ? What is tetanus
• Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is a medical
condition characterized by a prolonged
contraction of skeletal muscle fibers.
• The primary symptoms are caused
by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by
the Gram-positive obligate anaerobic
bacterium Clostridium tetani.

3. … Cont
• Infection generally occurs through wound
contamination and often involves a cut or
deep puncture wound. As the infection
progresses, muscle spasms develop in the jaw
(thus the name "lockjaw")

5. Epidemiology
• Tetanus - Greek Word -- Tetanos-to Contract
• Tetanus was first described in Egypt over
3000 years ago.
• Toxoid was first widely used during world war
II
• Tetanus Remains a Major Public Health
Problem in the Developing World and Is Still
Encountered in the Developed World.

6. … Cont
• There Are Between 800 000 and 1 Million
Deaths Due to Tetanus Each Year. Eighty Per
Cent of These Deaths Occur in Africa and
South East Asia and It Remains Endemic in
90 Countries World Wide.

7. Causes of tetanus
• Tetanus is caused by the Clostridium tetani
bacterium. Clostridium tetani spores are able
to survive for a long time outside of the body.
They are most commonly found in animal
manure and contaminated soil, but may exist
virtually anywhere.

8. … Cont
• When Clostridium tetani enter the body they
multiply rapidly and release tetanospasmin, a
neurotoxin (poison that affects the nervous
system). When tetanospasmin enters the
bloodstream it rapidly spreads around the
body, causing tetanus symptoms.

9. … Cont
• Tetanospasmin interferes with the signals sent
from the brain to the nerves in the spinal
cord, and then on to the muscles, causing
muscle spasms and stiffness.
• Puncture wounds - Clostridium tetani enters
the body mainly through a skin lesion (skin cut
or puncture wound).