Question
What are the common causes of neonatal tetanus?
Answer
Neonatal tetanus is primarily caused by the use of unsterilized scissors to cut the umbilical cord during delivery, or by the attending physician’s hands not being properly cleaned, as well as inadequate umbilical cord disinfection after birth. This disease leads to symptoms such as whole-body muscle contractions, increased heart rate, and elevated blood pressure. If a one-month-old baby repeatedly cries and has difficulty breastfeeding, and is diagnosed with neonatal tetanus after hospital examination, it is due to the invasion of Clostridium tetani into the umbilical cord, producing toxins, leading to an acute severe infectious disease characterized by lockjaw and generalized tonic spasms.