Q:
What is the diagnosis and treatment of tetanus?
A:
Your doctor may make a diagnosis of tetanus based on:
- A physical exam
- Medical and immunization history
- The signs and symptoms of muscle spasms, stiffness and pain
Laboratory tests generally aren’t helpful for diagnosing tetanus.
Treatments of tetanus include:
- Wound care. Cleaning the wound is essential to preventing growth of tetanus spores. This involves removing dirt, foreign objects and dead tissue from the wound.
- Medications like antitoxin, antibiotics, vaccine, sedatives and others to ease symptoms.
- Supportive therapies. Severe tetanus infection often requires a long stay in an intensive care setting.
- Since sedatives can inhibit breathing, you might temporarily need a ventilator.
