Question
What are the dangers of neonatal tetanus?
Answer
Tetanus is an acute infectious disease caused by the release of toxins from Clostridium tetani bacteria entering the body. The main characteristic is persistent muscle stiffness, accompanied by intermittent spasms. If not treated promptly, the mortality rate could be between 10% and 40%. This bacterium is widely distributed in nature, found in soil and animal feces. It can enter the human body through wounds, open fractures, burns, punctures, or rusty nails. If the tetanus vaccine is not administered when needed, there is a risk of re-infection with Clostridium tetani.