A Doctor reveals the first symptoms of tetanus

Dr. Roman Ivanov, an expert in the Gemotest laboratory, announced that tetanus can manifest itself in the form of spasms throughout the body, accompanied by difficulty breathing.

In an interview with the "Izvestia" newspaper, the doctor indicated that tetanus is an infectious disease that can lead to disability and even death. This disease develops if the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which is found inactive in soil or in animal feces, infiltrates a wound or bruise.

He says: "When these bacteria enter the wound, they become active and multiply rapidly, and begin to secrete the toxic tetanospasmin, which first affects the nerve endings at the wound site (a person may feel spasms in the wound area), and then moves to the central nervous system, which leads to spasms and muscle contraction." Severe damage to nerve fibers can lead to heart disorder, difficulty breathing and even a fracture of the spine on the background of muscle spasm.”

According to him, symptoms of the disease do not appear immediately, as the first symptoms may appear three weeks after infection. It can be accompanied by periodic spasms throughout the body that last a few minutes. The neck and back can bend, the muscles of the legs contract, the arms press to the body, and the hands contract.

He points out that because of the spasms of the muscles of the neck and abdomen, breathing becomes difficult. And due to jaw spasm, it becomes difficult to open the mouth. These symptoms may be exacerbated by touch, wind, bright light, or loud sound.

According to him, it is very important when a wound is infected with a “contaminated” instrument to immediately go to the medical clinic, even if there are no symptoms that necessitate that, as the doctor will wash and disinfect the wound site and then vaccinate the injured person with an anti-tetanus vaccine when necessary, and the patient can be injected with tetanus antibiotics. Thanks to this, the disease and its serious complications can be avoided.

Five "unknown" symptoms of dementia that you should know about to slow the progression of the disease

Dementia describes an impairment in the ability to remember, think or make decisions that interferes with carrying out daily activities.

The good news is that early treatment can help slow the progression of symptoms, which is why awareness is key.

How do you determine if you have simple forgetfulness or dementia?

And while memory loss is one of the most common symptoms of this mind-stealing condition, it's not the only sign that can set off alarm bells.

Emma Hewitt, chief of dementia at KYN in Beckley, revealed five symptoms of dementia that may not be well known:

- Change in behaviour

- Loss of confidence

- Isolation and loss of interest in friends, work, or hobbies

- Disturbed sleep or vivid dreams

- Problems recognizing and understanding money

Change in behaviour

A person with dementia may start repeating the same questions and activities over and over.

And the NHS notes that patients may become agitated or nervous or even start following their partners around.

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isolation

Because of memory problems caused by the brain condition, people with dementia can experience confusion.

From trouble recognizing familiar people to not remembering if they had breakfast, such problems can leave them confused.

Once they start to feel this way, it can lead them to become isolated and refuse to participate in activities they once enjoyed such as spending time with friends or participating in their usual hobbies.

Sleep problems

According to the Mayo Clinic, Lewy body dementia can lead to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder, which means you mimic dreams with your own body while you sleep. This may include behavior such as punching, kicking, yelling and screaming during sleep.

A review published in The International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that at least one type of sleep disorder is usually present in up to 90% of people with Lewy body dementia.

The research was based on a total of 70 articles that included 20 studies focused on personal sleep.

Money problems

According to the National Institute on Aging, people with dementia may begin to have problems with calculating change, paying for purchases or understanding a bank statement.

You may also notice that this person has unpaid bills or that there is money missing from their account.

Moreover, frequent financial mistakes can be one of the first signs of the condition.

While these symptoms may indicate other health conditions and do not confirm dementia, it is important to get tested to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Hewitt added: “Memory problems can also be caused by other factors such as stress, menopause, medication, anxiety and depression. Therefore, you are always advised to speak to your GP if you have concerns about your memory, or the memory of a family member, so that other causes can be identified that can be treated. "