What is tetanus, and how is it spread?
Tetanus spores, which are scattered all over the earth, are so tough that they easily tolerate being sprayed with antiseptics or being heated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes. They live in soil and street dust, and even in the bowels and stools of many domestic and farm animals. Tetanus is not contagious. One person cannot catch it from another person. Occasionally a susceptible person gets a puncture wound, a dental or ear infection, or an animal bite, and the wound is contaminated with tetanus spores. In the wound, the spore germinates and begins to produce a poison. The poison blocks the nerve impulses that allow muscle relaxation, so the result is excruciating muscle spasms. The muscle spasms are so strong they can crack thighbones and vertebrae. The spasms also prevent the essential processes of swallowing and breathing. The most common form of death from tetanus is suffocation, because its victims cannot breathe. Almost all reported cases of tetanus are in persons w
