Tetanus symptoms in humans after a dog bite: signs and vaccination

Animal bites are dangerous due to trauma and consequences as pathologies of an infectious nature. There is a threat that symptoms of tetanus will appear in a person after a dog bite, but mandatory DPT vaccination is provided; the vaccination is given after such an incident. Tetanus is dangerous and it is important to have an idea of the characteristics of the pathology.

dog bite

Features of the disease

Infectious infection with tetanus not only in humans, but also in animals, has been known since ancient times. In cases of gradual development of the virus in the victim’s body without medical counteraction to the process, in the vast majority of cases death occurs. The reason is the spread of the virus in the body, which is very resistant to many environmental factors.

The penetration of tetanus bacillus into the human body under favorable conditions leads to germination at the cellular level—the production of an exotoxin.

The consequence of the spread of the toxic substance is muscle paralysis, which leads to cardiac arrest and respiratory system disorders.

Mandatory tetanus vaccination for a dog bite increases the chances of a full recovery to 75%. Therapy gives a favorable prognosis if the patient promptly sought qualified help and did not deviate from the doctor’s recommendations.

It is very important to identify the signs of infection at an early stage to stop its spread.

What is "tetanus"?

A disease such as tetanus has been known since ancient times and was studied by the luminaries of medicine of that era. The greatest progress was achieved by G. Ramon, an immunologist, who in 1923 created a serum to prevent this disease.

The disease is caused by a special anaerobic bacterium. Tetanus bacillus develops only in an environment where there is no molecular oxygen. Under favorable conditions, spores begin to germinate and produce a toxic substance, tetanus exotoxin. It is this poison that provokes the most severe consequences for an infected person.

The disease in the absence of counteraction and prevention with a probability of up to 80 - 90% leads to death. The cause is muscle paralysis, which provokes cardiac arrest and asphyxia. With preliminary vaccination, the chances of recovery are 60 - 75%.

Mechanism of transmission from the dog

You can become infected with tetanus only when the bacteria penetrates the bloodstream and subsequently enters an anaerobic environment. This is possible when injured by sharp objects, for example, if you step on glass or a nail on the street. A small scratch or bite from an animal is also sufficient, especially if the person has not been vaccinated.

You can become infected with tetanus in different cases

In general, the tetanus bacillus is found everywhere, including in the intestines of animals and even humans. However, under such conditions it is not dangerous, because no toxin is produced, and the bacterium itself is not able to penetrate the mucous membranes.

It's another matter when signs of tetanus are found from dog teeth. With the animal's saliva, bacteria enter the wound; torn tissues form pockets, which is especially favorable for the proliferation of the bacterium. As a result, the production of toxin begins and the active course of the disease begins.

Manifestations and stages of disease development

The disease has 4 stages of development:

Stage 1. Initially, symptoms of tetanus may not appear for up to several months. This is to a certain extent due to the fact that the bacterium did not release a sufficient amount of poison for it to affect the functioning of the body. And the shorter the incubation period, the more difficult it will be for the victim to endure the disease. At this stage, only general malaise and anxiety, minor headache and muscle pain, and twitching of the area near the bite wound may be observed.
Stage 2. At the initial stage, a characteristic tension of the masticatory muscles (trismus) appears, and the jaw cramps. Pulling muscle tension spreads over the bitten area and gradually covers other areas, and a symmetry of the process is observed.
Stage 3. After 2 - 3 days, the peak phase begins, which lasts about 1 - 1.5 weeks. It is especially difficult if anti-tetanus serum has not been previously administered. The patient experiences a tonic contraction of the muscles of the face, neck, back and abdomen, then the process spreads to the limbs. The body becomes hard, the person bends in unnatural positions (usually an arc). Painful convulsions become more frequent, the functions of the respiratory system and urination are disrupted, the heart rate becomes erratic, and the temperature rises to 41 - 42 degrees. (A person may die already at this stage).
Stage 4. The action of the toxin provokes asphyxia or paralysis of important systems. The result is death. If the treatment was successful or the body was able to cope with the bacteria, the person is on the mend. Full recovery is possible in 2 - 3 months.

Developmental stages and symptoms

The causative agent of the disease enters the human body by contact, that is, through open wounds. The first signs of tetanus in adults after a bite from a cat, stray dog, or pig inevitably appear if the wound surface has not been treated in a timely manner and the person has not been vaccinated in a timely manner. Bacteria with animal saliva penetrate into the bloodstream. Torn tissue creates pockets - an anaerobic environment favorable for the proliferation of tetanus bacillus. The production of toxins starts, the disease enters the active phase.

Signs of tetanus after a dog bite may not appear for up to several months, which means that the amount of venom produced is not sufficient to cause significant disruption to the body. The duration of the incubation period depends on many factors, on average it lasts 1-2 weeks.

The rate of infection development is affected by:

depth of the wound;
location of the lesion;
resources of the victim's body.

People with poor health who are often sick are more susceptible to rapid infection. Sometimes high intensity is recorded - 1-2 days, but more often there is a gradual increase in the pathological process over several months. The shorter the incubation period, the more severe the disease.

There are several periods of development of tetanus infection:

At an early stage, the primary signs are flu-like symptoms - general malaise, anxiety, headache and muscle pain, minor twitching of the area around the bite site. Increased nervousness and irritability appear.
The subsequent development of the disease is characterized by tension in the masticatory muscles and jaw spasms. The process proceeds symmetrically. At the site of the wound, the area of muscle tension expands. The main clinical syndrome is twitching of the facial muscles, similar to a nervous tic. Against the background of injuries and bites, this is a very alarming signal that requires urgent medical attention.
The acute phase of the disease lasts 7-12 days, and is especially difficult in individuals who are not protected by anti-tetanus serum. The corners of the mouth are noticeably drooping on the face, which reflects muscle spasm, and increased salivation occurs. Tetanus after a dog bite manifests itself in a sharp contraction of muscles in the face and body, gradually spreading to the limbs. The body hardens, bends into unnatural positions, often arched. A person experiences painful cramps, the heart rhythm is disturbed, the respiratory and excretory systems fail, and the body temperature rises sharply to 41-42 degrees. The skin turns blue and becomes filled with blood. Attacks of convulsions overtake the victim 10-15 times a day. Muscle contraction is so intense that it leads to ligament rupture, bone fractures, and dislocations. Each factor affects the viability of the body and brings death closer.
The action of toxins leads to asphyxia, paralysis of vital body systems, leading to human death.

Preservation of life is possible with active treatment that suppresses the spread of bacteria. The recovery process lasts for 2-3 months.

Tetanus symptoms

Tetanus is a bacterial infection that affects the nervous system, causing muscle spasms.

If a dog bites you, you should immediately thoroughly treat the wound to eliminate most of the bacteria and viruses. An animal’s saliva contains many pathogenic organisms, deadly viruses, which rapidly divide and disperse with the bloodstream throughout the body.

The passage of the virus into the bitten area, and then into the bloodstream of the tetanus virus, produces and accumulates toxins for up to 2 weeks - this is the incubation period. At this stage, no signs of tetanus from a dog bite appear, and victims complain:

for headaches that do not go away for a long time;
irritability, nervousness;
insomnia;
increased sweating;
signs of flu.

It is important to know that the incubation time of tetanus after a dog attack will be determined by the depth of the wound, the bitten area, and the well-being of the victim. For those who are weakened, the symptoms of the disease develop more quickly.

headache

The main and characteristic sign of tetanus when bitten by a dog is manifested by twitching of the muscles of the facial area, which resembles a nervous tic. Of course, similar symptoms are also inherent in diseases of the nervous system due to chronic stress, but if wounds, dog bites, or cuts appear shortly before this sign, you should immediately go to the hospital.

After the accumulation of the virus in the bloodstream and tetanus toxins in a certain amount, initial symptoms are observed.

The corners of the mouth droop; it looks like a sardonic smile. This symptom is provoked by spasms of the facial muscles.
There is a lump in the throat, difficulty swallowing solid food.
Muscles ache, like with a cold or flu.
There is a lack of air.
There is sweating, it increases in the middle of the night.
Saliva is produced intensely.
Increases muscle tone.
There are difficulties with bowel movements and bladder.

The development of tetanus after a dog attack is gradual, and in each stage certain signs develop.

During the incubation period, it is possible to detect tetanus only after a series of studies and tests. When, after a dog bite or a laceration or puncture wound, a vaccine was not given at the clinic due to its absence, then within 14 days after the injury the victim undergoes tests to detect an infection in the blood.

muscles hurt

The severity of the disease course is largely determined by the length of incubation time of tetanus - if the latent stage is short, then the symptoms will not be so pronounced. Often the latent stage lasts 15 days, sometimes up to 3 weeks in rare situations. Then the pathology moves to the initial stage.

The duration of the initial stage takes 1-2 days, characterized by the development of pain in the bitten part, even in the case of already well-healed edges.

In addition to painful discomfort from a dog attack, tetanus manifests itself:

a sardonic smile;
trismus – due to tonic muscle spasms in the area of the temporomandibular joint, it is impossible to chew food normally and speak clearly;
dysphagia – a constant lump in the throat is felt, as if the patient was choking.

In addition, at the stage of development of the disease from a dog bite, muscle twitching appears slightly above the bitten area. When signs of tetanus increase and progress in an adult, spasms of the muscles of the back of the head may occur, which leads to the inability to tilt the head to the chest.

All clinical manifestations of tetanus are recorded at the development stage. This period lasts from 1 to 2 weeks, which is determined by the amount of toxins in the blood and the severity of the disease.

tetanus in humans

Symptoms at the height of the disease are as follows:

muscles contract convulsively - it all starts from the head, neck, with a gradual transition to the legs, covering the entire torso. Seizures occur unexpectedly and develop slowly, lasting from a few seconds to minutes. Outbreaks of spasms can be so strong that the victim’s joints are twisted and tendons are stretched;
I suffer from muscle tension all day long, manifesting myself in unbearable pain. The patient’s stomach hardens, the torso bends in the shape of an arc, the arms bend at the elbows, and the legs take the shape of a string;
spasms and contractions of the diaphragm muscles are recorded, which leads to changes in breathing, paralysis and outbreaks of suffocation.

Convulsive seizures occur up to 15 times a day, a grimace of horror is observed on the patient’s face, he screams, moans, and suffocates.

Victim's skin

acquires a bluish tint, temperature and pressure are elevated. When a seizure occurs, the muscles contract so strongly that ligaments can be torn, bones broken, and joints dislocated.

Based on the severity of tetanus and the assistance provided by doctors, improvement and recovery of the patient is observed at the end of the 3rd week. A decrease in the number and duration of seizures is recorded, muscle tone decreases, and health improves.

Full recovery comes after 3 months. If there are no complications, and all the doctor’s recommendations are followed, then tetanus can really be cured.

skin covering

Protection measures

If a dog bite does occur, after receiving an injury in a hospital setting, the following should be done:

thorough antiseptic cleaning of the wound to reduce the risk of infection, since animal saliva contains a huge number of viruses and pathogenic organisms that penetrate the bloodstream and spread throughout the body;
sanitation of wound pockets, blowing oxygen to speed up healing.

The infection often manages to penetrate the tissue, so thorough treatment is important.

A mandatory element of medical care is a tetanus vaccination after a dog bite and the administration of antitetanus serum. The procedure is accessible. If for some reason there is no tetanus vaccine available, then a series of laboratory tests can determine whether the virus is in the blood in order to diagnose the disease.

During treatment in a hospital, patients are placed in special aseptic boxes, in which irritating factors such as light and noise are reduced. Patients undergo procedures for muscle relaxation - relieving spasms and convulsive manifestations.

In order to maintain the vital functions of the body, constant monitoring of the functioning of the heart, lungs, stomach, and other organs is carried out.

Tetanus from a dog bite is fraught with serious complications even with treatment. Therapy is combined with the prevention of blood clots, congestive pneumonia, and other concomitant diseases.

Problems with swallowing and spasms of the facial muscles often make it difficult to eat, so dishes with a semi-liquid consistency are offered.

The duration of therapy depends on reducing the number of seizures, normalizing muscle tone, and improving the patient’s well-being. Following the doctor’s prescriptions and recommendations and providing medicinal support to the body helps patients recover from a serious illness.

Emergency help

You can get rid of the disease if you start treatment on time. Self-medication or late seeking medical help can lead to the growth of bacteria in the wound and the rapid spread of infection, sometimes even in the body of a vaccinated child.

Antitetanus immunoglobulin is used. Treatment depends on the condition of the child and the time that has passed since infection. An important point is high-quality primary surgical treatment of the wound in order to maximally remove Cl.tetani and other microorganisms and ensure blood supply. The effectiveness of this action depends on the general condition of the child’s body at the time of treatment, the duration of its implementation, in most cases hospitalization is necessary.

Intensity of infection development

The intensity of the symptoms and the duration of the incubation period determine the main forms of the disease:

mild - incubation period up to 3 weeks, pronounced signs of the disease (trismus, difficulty swallowing, sardonic smile). Timely therapy gives a favorable prognosis;
moderate severity - the period of development of tetanus infection does not exceed 15 days, symptoms increase within 2-3 days. High temperature, fever, triad of signs of tetanus. The course of the disease depends on the body’s resources and the medical care measures taken;
severe - an incubation period of about 10 days, intense symptoms with a sharp deterioration in the victim’s condition, the presence of complications. High percentage of deaths;
extremely severe - rapid development of the disease over several days, continuous attacks, disruption of internal organs, leading to the death of the victim.

Preventing the development of the disease is possible as soon as the first signs of tetanus appear in a person after a dog bite.

Consequences of a dog bite: rabies

The most dangerous consequence of an animal bite is rabies.
The life of the injured person depends on how quickly measures are taken to prevent it. Rabies is a viral infection that affects the central nervous system. The virus can be carried by all warm-blooded animals. According to veterinarians, rabies can be carried not only by dogs and cats, but also by foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels, mice, rats, wolves, birds, etc. Animal saliva is the most dangerous. And infection occurs through a bite or when saliva gets on the mucous membranes or in microtraumas of the skin. Rabies can lead to the death of the victim, because the respiratory and vasomotor centers are affected.

The incubation period (time the virus is activated) can last from 7-14 days to three months, or even up to a year. It primarily depends on where the bites were inflicted. The most unfavorable places are the head, face, neck, fingers, and groin area.

The disease begins with characteristic and pronounced symptoms: pain at the site of the bite, fever, insomnia, bad mood, irritability, a feeling of unreasonable fear, increased sensitivity to sounds and light, a feeling of lack of air, etc. Further, convulsions, hallucinations, delirium, paralysis and, as a result, death are possible.

Timely administration of the rabies vaccine (rabies vaccine, from the word Rabies - rabies) helps prevent the development of the disease. It was invented by Louis Pasteur and first used in 1885. Nowadays, the most commonly used drug is CoCAV (concentrated cultured rabies vaccine). And you shouldn’t be afraid of injections - they haven’t been given in the stomach for a long time, and the number has been reduced to a minimum (previously there were more than 30 injections).

Also, the rabies virus is destroyed at high temperatures, under the influence of alkalis and acids, and is also unstable to iodine preparations and phenol.

Infection of domestic animals, like humans, occurs through the bites and saliva (saliva) of sick animals.

The insidiousness of rabies is that the incubation (hidden) period lasts without symptoms.

But at this time the infected animal is already dangerous. Its behavior will not necessarily be aggressive, but, on the contrary, the animal can hide or strenuously caress its owners and friends, trying to lick it.

But saliva is already contagious, and only then do the characteristic signs of the disease appear - anxiety, lack of appetite, drooling, difficulty swallowing, etc.

If it is unknown whether the bitten animal has been vaccinated against rabies, but there is no potential danger of infection, then the animal can be quarantined and left under the supervision of a veterinarian for 10 days.

If there is serious concern that the bitten animal is rabid, then some doctors recommend causing heavy bleeding from the wound by making a small incision with a knife or razor blade. Then you need to squeeze out more blood by pressing on the edges of the wound.

Rabies prevention consists, in particular, in timely immunization of animals (dogs, cats, etc.) and people at occupational risk (hunters, foresters, dog catchers, animal breeders, etc.). The rabies vaccine is not as safe as it seems. It can have side effects and is harmful during pregnancy because... may harm the health of the unborn child. Therefore, the vaccine should be administered for medical reasons.

Advertising

Prevention

Many cases of tetanus infection can be avoided if you take care of safety in advance:

vaccinate domestic dogs and other pets;
limit contact with unfamiliar animals, do not provoke them into aggressive behavior;
persons whose occupation is related to animals (veterinarians, dog handlers) should use tetanus vaccines.

Injuries from a vaccinated dog, no skin bites, and injuries solely from the animal’s claws are less dangerous.
Tetanus vaccination is not carried out in such cases. An important factor is the absence of open wounds and contact with the animal’s saliva for human safety against the threat of contracting tetanus after a bite.

Tetanus. How to save a life