On July 8 , a woman was given an antibiotic for presumptive sinusitis . However,

Question

On July 8 , a woman was given an antibiotic for presumptive sinusitis . However, her condition worsened, and she was unable to eat for 4 Ayanna because of severe pain and tightness of the jaw . On July 12, she was admitted to a hospital with severe facial spasms . She reported that on July 5 she had incurred a punctured wound at the base of her big toe : she cleaned the wound but did not seek medical attention. What caused her symptoms ? Was condition due to an infection or an intoxcication ? Can she transmit this condition to another person ? On July 8 , a woman was given an antibiotic for presumptive sinusitis . However, her condition worsened, and she was unable to eat for 4 Ayanna because of severe pain and tightness of the jaw . On July 12, she was admitted to a hospital with severe facial spasms . She reported that on July 5 she had incurred a punctured wound at the base of her big toe : she cleaned the wound but did not seek medical attention. What caused her symptoms ? Was condition due to an infection or an intoxcication ? Can she transmit this condition to another person ?

Explanation / Answer

The woman is most probably suffering from tetanus which is characterised by tonic muscle spasm. Tetanus is caused by bacteria Clostridium tetani. The bacteria produces tetanospasmin which has strychnine like effects causing muscle spasm. Tightness in jaw(trismus) is usually the first symptom of the disease. Puncture wounds are particularly vulnerable as they favour the growth of anaerobic bacteria( C. tetani is anaerobic). Therefore, her condition is due to an infection. Tetanus is not a communicable disease. She cannot transmit this condition to another person.

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