What is Tetanus and what are the main causes of Tetanus?
What is Tetanus? Tetanus is an infection of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). The disease is rare, but often fatal. It is caused when the bacterium Clostridium tetani (pronounced claw-STRID-eeum TEHT-uh-nee) enters the body. The bacterium often enters the body through wounds or cuts exposed to soil. Tetanus can easily be prevented through vaccination. It is a serious, sometimes fatal, disease of the central nervous system that is caused by an infection of a wound with spores of the bacterium, Clostridium tetani. The spores live in the soil. When spores enter the body through a wound, they can multiply and produce a toxin that affects the nerves that control muscle activity. Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a serious but preventable disease that affects the body’s muscles and nerves. It typically arises from a skin wound that becomes contaminated by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani, which is often found in soil. What are the main causes of tetanus? he bacter
