Patient's question:
Premature infant at 20 days, currently around 20 days old. It has been discovered that the muscles around the baby's mouth are tense, and the upper and lower lips are tight. Currently, there is suspicion that the baby may have tetanus. I would like to ask about the treatment principles for tetanus in infants?Doctor's answer:
Hello, parent. Tetanus in infants is an acute and severe infection caused by the invasion of Clostridium tetani through the umbilical cord. It typically occurs around seven days after birth. It is characterized by whole-body skeletal muscle rigidity and jaw locking. Patients usually contract tetanus due to unsterilized scissors, thread, or cord used during birth to cut the umbilical cord, or due to improper disinfection when tying or wrapping the umbilical stump, allowing Clostridium tetani to invade the umbilical area.