Tetanus is a potentially life-threatening disease of the nervous system caused by infection of a wound with Clostridium tetani bacteria, which live in the soil and animal manure.
The main symptoms of infection include stiff jaw muscles (lockjaw), fever, fast pulse, and sweating.
Painful muscle spasms may develop; these may affect the throat or chest and lead to breathing difficulty or even suffocation. Tetanus requires immediate treatment.
If symptoms have not developed, treatment is with immunoglobulin to destroy the bacteria. If symptoms have developed, treatment may include immunoglobulin, antibiotics, medication to relieve muscle spasms, and sometimes artificial ventilation.
With prompt treatment, most people recover. A preventive vaccine is available, and is usually given combined with other vaccines, such as diphtheria and polio

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