Answer:
A. What is your diagnosis here?
As per symptoms and incident of puncturing left arm with nail from an old barn indicates it can be infection of Clostridium tetani causing disease tetanus.
When such kinds of wound occurs, there should be injection of tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) immediately. This injection contains antibodies against Clostridium tetani which can kill the microorganism. It should be injected as soon as possible. But this is short term immediate medication.
B. What is the proper treatment of this problem?
For the treatment antibiotic penicillin, metronidazole or tetracycline can be given, it prevents multiplication of bacteria and production of neurotoxin from bacteria. these neurotoxins are responsible for muscular spasms. Along with antibiotic some anticonvasculants, muscle relaxants can be given to reduce spasms, anxiety.
C. How could this have been prevented?
This infection can be prevented by giving its vaccine in childhood itself. Vaccine is given in the form of DTaP vaccine (diptheria, tetanus toxoid, acellular pertusis). It is given in 5 shots. It is given in the arm or thigh when child is at 2 month age, 4 month age, 6 month age, 15 to 18 month age, 4- 6 years of age.
Explanation:
