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Tetanus; infamously known as lockjaw. This disease is found
worldwide. Non-communicable diseases that will literally make your
muscles tighten. Tetanus is not your typical disease. It is not
spread person to person but through scraps, cuts, or any open
wounds that break the skin. The incubation period for the disease
is anywhere from 3-21 days depending on the wound and how
contaminated the object was. The bacterium enters through these
wounds and attacks the body affecting mostly the muscles. Most
cases occur in people who are not vaccinated or do not maintain
their boosters. Boosters are needed every ten years to prevent the
disease. Although we cannot prevent injuries that cause the body
harm we can prevent the disease from affecting our bodies through
vaccination administration.

Tetanus cannot be tested but is diagnosed by physical
examination conducted by a licensed physician. The diagnosis is
based off physical examination and the reports from the patients
about the symptoms they are experiencing. Some of those symptoms
include; seizures, body aches, muscle spasms, jaw cramping,
difficulty swallowing, headaches, fever, sweating, changes in blood
pressure, and changes in their heart rate. Other complications can
develop depending on a person’s individual health and health
history.

The best way to prevent Tetanus is by preventing it with the
Tetanus vaccination and the boosters that are needed every ten
years. This vaccination could be administered by a number of ways.
There are four different types of combinations that include the
Tetanus vaccination; Diphtherias & Tetanus (DT), Diphtherias,
Tetanus, & Pertussis (DTaP), Tetanus & Diphtherias (Td),
and Tetanus, Diphtherias, & Pertussis (Tdap).Tetanus is
administered at six weeks old, ten weeks old, and fourteen weeks
old. Boosters are given three different times during childhood to
keep the children up to date on vaccinations that prevent the
disease. People affected by Tetanus are not immune to getting
Tetanus again like some other known diseases.

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) in their
article about Tetanus they reported that Tetanus cases have been on
the decline by more than 95% because of the increase in
vaccinations being distributed worldwide. The CDC also reported
that deaths in the United States are on the decline and have
declined more than 99%. According to WHO (World Health
Organization) in 2016 there are only 13, 502 reported cases
globally. They also reported that 86% of the world is covered by
the Tetanus vaccination. According to the World Health Organization
there are currently 8 countries in the world that have 50% of their
population affected by Tetanus. The other 50% are reported to have
received their Tetanus vaccination. Majority of those countries are
found in the middle of Africa. There are currently 27 countries in
the world that 50-79% of their population who have received their
vaccinations. There are also 130 countries that have over 90% of
their population who have been vaccinated.

Tetanus is a vaccine preventable disease in which everyone can
be affected by. Vaccinations are currently a controversial topic
everywhere. Vaccinations play an important role in helping prevent
disease like Tetanus.

References:

1. About Tetanus. (article). Retrieved September 1, 2017 from
https://www.cdc.gov/tetanus/about/index.html

2. Tetanus. (article). Retrieved August 30, 2017 from
www.who.int/immunization/diseases/tetanus/en/

3. Finkelstein P, Teisch L, Allen CJ, Ruiz G. (2011). Tetanus: A
Potential Public Health Threat in Times of Diaster.