Health professionals are sounding the alarm over potential rises in tetanus, commonly known as bone-lock. Symptoms may take anywhere from 3 to 21 days to manifest and can include severe muscle spasms leading to breathing difficulties. Once the infection establishes itself, sufferers often experience jaw clenching, resembling a fixed grin, coupled with painful back muscle contractions.
“The effects are alarming,” stated Dr. Mobeen Rathore, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Florida Jacksonville School of Medicine.
The bacterium Clostridium tetani is commonly found in soil and fertilizers. Infections can arise from puncture wounds, and the illness can persist for several weeks, complicating treatment.
Treatment is not only challenging but also expensive. A case reported by the CDC highlighted an unvaccinated 6-year-old in Oregon who incurred nearly $1 million in medical expenses due to tetanus in 2019.
Dr. Rasool emphasized the stark difference in costs, likening vaccination expenses to intensive care costs.
“It’s a fraction of a cent compared to hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Rasool remarked. “It’s a hefty price to pay.”
This year, he diagnosed an unvaccinated 9-year-old in Laseau, Florida, who exhibited signs of muscle spasms reminiscent of warnings from his medical school tetanus wards—dark, quiet spaces meant to minimize sensory overload.
“Even minimal noise can provoke seizures in many cases,” Rasool explained.
Light sensitivity, or photophobia, can also lead to painful spasms and airway muscle contractions.
In the bustling ICU, bright lights and alarms limited Rasool’s ability to reduce patient stimulation. The 9-year-old was sedated, intubated, and treated with tetanus immune globulin antibodies alongside vaccination to mitigate future risks.
The child spent a challenging 37 days in the hospital.
“Before widespread immunization, we witnessed increased tetanus cases and a higher mortality rate,” noted Dr. Matthew Davis, Chief Scientific Officer at Nemours Children’s Health.
John Johnson, a vaccination and epidemic prevention expert with Médecins Sans Frontières, operates in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo, where tetanus remains a pressing concern. In 2022 alone, 540 cases were reported in the DRC according to the World Health Organization.
“This disease is trivially preventable,” Johnson lamented. “One case of tetanus in the U.S. would be a regrettable anomaly; there’s no reason for this illness to reappear.”
“My jaw has completely locked.”
Post childhood vaccination, booster doses are advised every decade for adults, yet many remain unaware of this necessity.
Nikki Arellano, aged 42, hadn’t received a tetanus shot since 2010. After a minor injury while assisting a friend, she began experiencing jaw pain during lunch. Soon, she found herself unable to open her mouth.
“My jaw completely locked shut,” said Arellano from Reno, Nevada. “Despite heavy sedation and pain relief in the emergency room, nothing worked.”
Arellano was diagnosed with tetanus and admitted for IV antibiotics.
“With each episode, I heard a loud beeping response. The muscle contractions felt explosive,” she recounted.
Initially, spasms began in one arm, spreading rapidly. “My back curved painfully,” she shared.
Arellano then struggled to swallow and feared her airway was at risk.
“It was terrifying,” she added.
After nearly a week in the hospital, Arellano continues her recovery process.
Climate Change Heightens Tetanus Risks
Natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods heighten the risks of tetanus outbreaks. Injuries from debris can facilitate bacterial infection.
“As global temperatures rise, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events are increasing,” stated Christy Ebi, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington. “More flooding translates to fewer vaccinations for diseases like tetanus, heightening public vulnerability.”
States severely affected by natural disasters, such as Florida, Texas, and Kansas, have reported significant drops in tetanus vaccination rates, according to NBC News data.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
