Patient's question:
My nephew was born a few weeks ago. He has been eating and sleeping normally, but during a recent check-up, the doctor said he has tetanus. What is the definition of tetanus in newborns?Doctor's answer:
Definition of neonatal tetanus: Also known as "four-six wind," "umbilical wind," or "seven-day wind," it refers to an acute infectious disease characterized by jaw stiffness and generalized muscle rigidity and spasms, caused by the invasion of Clostridium tetani into the umbilicus and the production of toxins. The main cause is the failure to strictly sterilize during the delivery process when using scissors to cut the umbilical cord, or when the midwife's hands are unclean, or when the umbilical cord area is not cleaned and disinfected after birth, leading to neonatal tetanus, also known as "46 wind," "seven-day wind," or "umbilical wind." It is usually caused by the invasion of tetanus bacteria into the navel during the delivery process, as the hands of the delivery personnel or the scissors and gauze they use are not sterilized or not sufficiently sterilized. Most cases occur 4 to 7 days after birth.