Question
If a newborn exhibits symptoms such as restlessness, persistent crying, and clenched jaws, and is diagnosed with tetanus at the hospital, how should neonatal tetanus surgery be performed?
Answer
The treatment for neonatal tetanus primarily involves vaccination with the tetanus toxoid. It is commonly recommended to administer the DTP (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccine, with an immunization schedule of three doses sequentially at 3, 4, and 5 months after birth to establish a basic immune response. A booster dose is also given at 2 and 7 years old. In case of an injury that could trigger tetanus, a single dose of the toxoid should be administered immediately to promote a rapid increase in antitoxin titers in the serum.