Patient's question:
My little one is now eleven months old. He just started learning to walk, and he stumbles around quite a bit, being especially cute and adorable. This morning, I was about to put him in his walker, but the walker broke, and he fell out of it. He got a big cut on his head and was bleeding quite a bit. We took him to the hospital, and the doctor wrapped it up and said it might get infected with tetanus.What kind of help is needed: How is tetanus treated in newborns?
Doctor's answer:
1. Neonatal tetanus is caused by infection during the umbilical cord cutting process after birth.2. It usually occurs 3 to 14 days after birth. The initial symptoms include crying, difficulty opening the mouth, and feeding difficulties. Subsequently, symptoms such as jaw stiffness, facial muscle tension, and intermittent clenched fists may appear. In severe cases, it can lead to severe pain in the respiratory muscles, causing breathing difficulties.
3. Currently, in hospitals, tetanus is not likely to occur during childbirth.
4. If diagnosed, active treatment is necessary.