Patient's question:
My baby was born not long ago. Sometimes, when she wants to nurse or change her diaper, she feels like she can't eat and sometimes she has twitching. I suspect she might have tetanus and want to learn about the symptoms of neonatal tetanus.Expected help: What are the symptoms of neonatal tetanus?
Doctor's answer:
1. Incubation period: Variable in length, often related to whether or not vaccination has been previously known, the nature and location of psychological trauma, and the management of wounds, among other factors. Typically 7 to 8 days, but can range from as short as 24 hours to as long as several months or years.2. Prodromal period: Fatigue, dizziness, headache, jaw weakness, hyperreflexia, restlessness, localized pain, muscle pulling, twitching, rigidity, jaw tension, and difficulty opening the mouth.
3. Recurrence period: Persistent muscle contraction. Initially affecting the jaw muscles, followed sequentially by the facial muscles, neck, back, abdomen, limbs, and finally the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.