Tetanus is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. It is also known as “lockjaw” due to the fact that it causes painful and prolonged muscle spasms of the face and neck, which can lead to respiratory problems. Tetanus can be contracted through breaks in the skin, such as a wound or puncture from a rusty nail or other object that has been contaminated with C. tetani spores (Sharma et al., 2017). Once inside the body, these spores germinate into bacterial cells which produce toxins, causing severe muscle contractions and spasticity (CDC, 2018).

People of all ages are at risk for contracting tetanus; however, it is more common in children than adults because they may not receive appropriate immunizations on time. People who do not have up-to-date vaccinations are at highest risk for infection (CDC, 2018). Additionally, people living with poor hygiene practices may be more likely to come into contact with objects contaminated with C. tetani (Sharma et al., 2017). Other factors that increase an individual’s likelihood of becoming infected include gardening activities where objects contaminated with soil may enter through broken skin or dirty wounds associated with burns or deep cuts (Lenard & Hoffman 2014) .

The signs and symptoms of tetanus depend on each individual case but commonly present as stiffness or painful spasms in the jaw muscles followed by difficulty swallowing and facial expressions like grimacing(Lenard & Hoffman 2014.). The initial symptom occurs within two weeks after contamination but if left untreated can lead to complications like breathing problems due to spasms in chest muscles or seizures resulting from central nervous system involvement(CDC 2018). Therefore early diagnosis and proper management are essential for preventing serious complications related to this condition.