Question

On july 8th, a woman was given an antibiotic for presumptive sinusitis. however, her condition worsened, and she was unable to eat for 4 days because of severe pain and tightness of the jaw. on july 12th, she was admitted to a hospital with severe facial spasms. she reported that on july 5th she had incurred a puncture wound and the base of her big toe; she cleaned the wound but did not seek medical attention. what caused her symptoms? was her condition due to an infection or an intoxication? can she transmit this condition to another person?

Answer 1

Clostridium Tetani is bacteria that are responsible for the disease known as Tetanus or "Lockjaw". Tetanus is a non-communicable disease (able to spread between person to person), that usually transmit into the body via a puncture with a contaminated surface.

Tetanus is a fairly dangerous disease, as the infection usually kills via the toxins it produces, which attack the brain and nervous system. It's hallmark signs are muscle spasm, including of the jaw, which usually keep it clamped shut. The dangerous bit is the possible paralysis of the muscles used for breathing, with being unable to to take air in and out you will die without positive pressure ventilation usually via a ventilator.

Normally the best treatment of Tetanus is to provide antibiotics and possible prepare for respritory distress. In essence you would just prove supportive care via several intubations and ventilations. These type of infections are rare as most people clean the area of the puncture well, and also have the vaccine.