While working as a painter at a construction site, a 50-year-old male patient (from Hai Phong) unfortunately stepped on a nail. After that, he went to a clinic, and the doctor prescribed antibiotics but did not prescribe tetanus vaccine. About 11 days later, the wound did not subside, and the patient developed jaw stiffness and inability to eat or drink.
According to Ms. D. T. Y (patient's wife), when she saw her husband showing abnormal signs, the family took him to a grassroots hospital. Here, doctors treated the wound and performed surgery to remove a small stone left in his foot. After that, the family asked to transfer the patient to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases to continue treatment.
Inpatient doctor Truong Tu The Bao, Emergency Department, Central Tropical Diseases Hospital, said that upon admission, the patient suffered from whole-body muscle stiffness, affecting breathing, so he had to have endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation.
According to doctors, tetanus bacteria often invade through dirty wounds. People at high risk of injury and tetanus are farmers, farmers, gardeners and workers who regularly work at the construction site. This group should be boosted with tetanus vaccine every 5-10 years to maintain protection.
When injured, people need to wash the wound under clean tap water, do not bandage it too tightly or too tightly to stop the bleeding, then go to a medical facility for disinfection, risk assessment and tetanus vaccination advice if necessary. People should also not arbitrarily apply leaves, thuốc lào or folk remedies to the wound," said resident doctor Truong Tu The Bao.
Doctors said that during treatment, they have received many cases of applying leaves, tobacco or bandaging the wound, not cleaning properly, increasing the risk of tetanus as well as other dangerous infections.
For workers, the full use of protective equipment and compliance with labor safety regulations are very necessary, helping to limit injuries and reduce the risk of tetanus bacteria entering wounds.
