Question
Neonates’ nails grow rapidly, and parents may accidentally cause minor cuts while trimming them, worrying about the need for tetanus vaccination. Can neonatal tetanus cause convulsions?
Answer
Tetanus is an acute infection caused by the tetanus bacterium producing toxins after Intrusion ing the wound. Neonatal tetanus is usually caused by infection with tetanus bacteria due to the use of unsterilized scissors to cut the umbilical cord. The earlier the onset of the disease, the more severe the condition tends to be, and the mortality rate is relatively high. Once the disease occurs, treatment is more difficult, so it should be given sufficient attention. Early symptoms include crying, difficulty opening the mouth, and difficulty suckling. If a tongue depressor is used to press on the tongue, the harder the pressure, the more difficult it is to open the mouth, and the tongue depressor is bitten more tightly, which is known as a positive tongue depressor test and helps with early diagnosis. It is recommended that when in doubt, consider receiving a tetanus vaccination to prevent infection.