Tetanus

For a lay person:

Tetanus is a serious infection caused by a toxin from bacteria that enter the body through wounds, often from soil or rusty objects. It causes painful muscle stiffness and spasms, starting with the jaw, and can be fatal; it is prevented by vaccination.

For a trained medical person:

Caused by tetanospasmin from Clostridium tetani spores in contaminated wounds, which blocks inhibitory neurotransmitter release causing rigidity, spasms and autonomic instability. Diagnosis is clinical. Management is intensive care with wound debridement, human tetanus immunoglobulin, metronidazole, benzodiazepines and magnesium for spasms, airway support, and vaccination after recovery; wound care with tetanus vaccine and immunoglobulin as indicated prevents it.

In Chinese medicine:

Liu and Tseng's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Mild Case; Severe Case; Zheng Qi Deficiency with Lingering Evil Pathogens. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: Tetanus is a medical emergency: get immediate care for jaw stiffness or muscle spasms after a wound, and see a doctor about a tetanus booster for any dirty wound if not up to date. It needs hospital treatment and is notifiable in many countries; Chinese medicine is adjunctive at most.