Patient's question:
A newborn baby was accidentally cut on their hand a few days after birth. Will this situation lead to tetanus? How should one judge and treat it to prevent the occurrence of this disease in the future? I'd like to consult whether tetanus in the baby will affect vision?Doctor's answer:
It won't be affected. Tetanus in infants is caused by infection during the umbilical cord cutting after birth. It typically occurs between 3 to 14 days after birth. The main symptoms of tetanus include crying, difficulty opening the mouth slightly, and feeding difficulties. Later, teeth may become clenched, facial muscles may become tense, and episodes of spasmodic clenched fists may occur. In severe cases, spasms of the respiratory muscles can lead to suffocation. Early symptoms include crying, difficulty opening the mouth slightly, and sucking difficulties. If a tongue depressor is used to press the tongue, the harder the force, the more difficult it is to open the mouth. If the tongue depressor bites tightly, it is called a positive tongue depressor test, which is beneficial for early diagnosis. It won't affect the development of vision.