In my case study I was presented with a patient 58-year old patient who upon physical examination presented signs & symptoms of headaches, irritability, generalized muscle pain and very tight contractions and uncontrollable back spasms. Further assessing this patient, it was discovered that he previously injured himself by puncturing his left arm with a nail from and old barn he was tearing. The puncture wound has produced moderate quantities of pus, but it has not been kept clean. According to the patients’ immunization records a tetanus vaccination has not been administered to him since he was a child. With this patient producing these types of signs and symptoms as well as his immunization records for tetanus vaccination and boosters are …show more content…
The disease usually presents itself with a descending pattern. The first sign is trismus commonly known as lockjaw, sweating, high blood pressure, and tachycardia. Spasms occur frequently, lasting for several minutes and they persist for 3–4 weeks. Full recovery may take months. Between 5-10% of cases are fatal. Localized Tetanus: Which is an uncommon form of this disease where patients have persistent contraction of muscles in the same area of the puncture wound. These contractions may persist for many weeks before eventually subsiding. Even though localized tetanus may present the signs & symptoms of generalized Tetanus this form is usually milder. Only about 1% of cases with this form are fatal. Cephalic Tetanus: Which is a rare form of this disease, infrequently occurring with otitis media in which C. tetani is in the flora of the middle ear, or following injuries to the head. The patients’ cranial nerves will be affected. Lastly Neonatal Tetanus: is a form of generalized tetanus that occurs in newborns. Neonatal tetanus occurs in infants that are born without protective passive immunity, because the mother is not immune. It most often occurs through infection of the unhealed umbilical stumps, particularly when the stump is cut with an unsterile instrument. Neonatal tetanus is more frequent in developing …show more content…
The adherence of the inhibitor blocks the neuron from releasing the acetylcholine that is responsible for muscle contractions, as a result of this the muscle relaxes. If these neurotransmitters are hindered there is nothing ceasing the release of acetylcholine from the excited neuron. As a result, the muscle will stay contracted. Tetanospasmin is the toxin used to create the toxoid in immunization thee vaccine.(K.J. Ryan pg.321)
Proper treatment of Tetanus includes debridement, which is a surgical method used to rid the puncture wound of dead or contaminated tissues. Various antibiotics such as penicillin, benzypenicillin, and metronidazole, Muscle relaxants medication such as lorazepam, and most importantly immunoglobulins will be administered in this case it would be “Tetanus Immunoglobulin’ (TIG) which will neutralize the toxin, but will not have any effect on the toxins in the
Through the rise of technological advances in medicine, the vaccine has changed the world for the greater good of the human race. Making a great triumph and virtually eliminating an array of life-threatening diseases, from smallpox to diphtheria, thus adding approximately thirty years to many humans’ life spans. Although, a new complication has arisen, possibly linking neurological digression with this rise of new vaccines. Such a digression has forced parents to exempt their children from receiving vaccinations and brought forth mental anguish affecting the minds of many.
...st the sacrolemma will depolarized, thus activation potentials along the T-tubules. This signal will transmit from along the T-tubules to sarcroplasmic reticulum's terminal sacs. Next, sarcoplasmic reticulum will release the calcium into the sarcroplasm leading to the next second event called contraction. The released calcium ions will now bind to troponin. This will cause the inhibition of actin and mysoin interaction to be released. The crossbridge of myosin filaments that are attached to the actin filaments, thus causing tension to be exerted and the muscles will shorten by sliding filament mechanism. The last event is called Relaxation. After the sliding of the filament mechanism, the calcium will be slowly pumped back into the scaroplasmic reticulum. The crossbridges will detach from the filaments. The inhibition of the actin and myosin will go back to normal.
Firstly you could remove the thymus gland which oversees much of the immunes response. Secondly, create intravenous antibodies to bind and inactivate the ones causing the damage. Thirdly, you could invest in cholinesterase inhibitors to improve communication between nerves and muscles which helps the affected muscles contract properly and maintain good strength. You could also do a plasma exchange transfusion which rapidly removes the damaging antibodies from the circulation.
“Vaccinations are causing a major upsurge in childhood diseases, adult maladies, and even deadly ailments such as Gulf War Syndrome and Lou Gehrig’s disease” (Blaylock). Every now and then an individual’s doctor calls telling them about the latest vaccine they should receive. The person immediately schedules a time to come in and get it done. But do they even give a second thought about it? Have they ever thought that maybe they do not need another vaccination? Many people have not taken the time to seriously think about the process of immunization. The truth is, there are many dangers that the average person should be unaware of. Rarely do vaccines actually accomplish what the public has been told. In fact, a lot of vaccines contain harmful substances that have been linked to disorders such as autism. The lack of education and dishonesty from doctors are putting people in danger of health problems without even realizing. Many parents feel obligated for their children to get vaccinated because of school, not knowing they have the alternative option of refusing immunization.
The current living situation of the children and family members and their access to health care services including transportation method, health insurance, financial concerns, and other economic constraints.
I was with a 71-year-old male patient in an emergency room (ER) at a community hospital. The patient had been hit by a car while on his bike. In the accident, the pt had slid on the hood of the car and then across the asphalt, so he had abrasions down his right side. However, miraculously, the patient had no broken bones and he was alert, oriented, and ambulating. During the visit to the hospital, a nurse brought in a vaccination vial and a syringe and started drawing up the vaccine while stating, “Have you had a tetanus vaccine? You need this shot. I noticed you haven’t had one recently.” The patient said “no, no, no shots. I don’t want that.” The nurse then attempted to use humor stating “it’s no big deal, it’s just a little pinch.” This comment towards an older gentleman, who knows what a shot feels like seemed condescending to me. The patient said, “no, thanks.” The nurse then said “ok, it’s your right to refuse” and left. I was dismayed and critical of the interaction and made a mental note to handle things differently should I encounter similar circumstances in the
...y parts should be elevated above the heart, a tetanus shot is given and the wounds are covered in cool moist bandages to prevent the development of infection. Patients with severe burns are more susceptible to infections so many doctors prescribe a broad stream antibiotic to avoid dealing with further complications. (Web MD, 2009). Minor burns are usually treated with a cool compression and a sterile bandage, avoid keeping the burn moist as it may take longer to heal, minor burns usually clear up on their own.
United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Pink Book "Tetanus" N.p.: n.p., n.d. Http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/tetanus.pdf. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web.
Follow the DSRABCD (Danger, Response, Send for help, Airway, Breathing, CPR, Defibrillation), we then reassure our patient and ask them to lie down and not move. Next we can apply a crepe bandage over the snakebite followed by a pressure bandage and splints, immobilizing the part of patient so the venom isn’t prompted to move throughout the body. We also need to keep in check if the patient still has circulation flowing in their immobilized area, we then stay with the patient and write down the time of the bite and when the bandage was applied.
A hypothesis that can be made from the patient’s report is that she is suffering from cervical radiculopathy, or a nerve root lesion. Symptoms that describe cervical radiculopathy include: arm pain in a dermatome distribution, pain increased by extension, rotation, and/or side flexion, possible relief of pain from arm positioned overhead, affected sensation, altered hand function, no spasticity, and no change to gait or bowel and bladder function (Magee, 2008, p. 142). These symptoms correlate to what the patient reported as a result of her injury. She stated that her pain is in the posterolateral upper and lower arm with aching and paresthesia in the thumb and index finger, which is in the dermatome pattern of cervical root 5 and 6 (C5, C6) (Magee, 2008, p. 25). She also reports lancinating pain with extension or rotation to the right of her head.
Tetanus: acute infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by the toxins of Clostridium Tetani.
The history of vaccinations does not begin with the first vaccination itself but rather an infectious disease that had greatly affected the human population. In 1796 Edward Jenner created a successful composition using cowpox material that created immunity to the ongoing growth of the small pox disease. Jenner’s method underwent 200 years of medical and technological changes until it had finally resulted in complete elimination of the smallpox disease. Vaccinations have been a controversial medical topic for many years and although it is proven to be an effective means of preventing serious effects, including fatalities from childhood illnesses the controversy remains that the side effects from the immunizations outweigh the risk of contracting the disease. According to the College of Physicians of Philadelphia they state that “innovative techniques now drive vaccine research, with recombinant DNA technology and new delivery techniques leading scientist in new directions. Disease targets have expanded, and some vaccine research is beginning to focus on non-infectious conditions, such as addictions and allergies” (“The History of Vaccines” College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Web. 10 January. 2014). While public health officials insist that vaccines are the best way to protect public health. Over the past thirty years the vaccination schedule has tripled and since then there has been an alarming rise in the infant mortality rate in America. The problem is not the vaccination itself, but the quality of the vaccination.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has listed immunizations as the number one greatest public health achievement in the 20th century. This attainment towards the goal of health and safety is a huge success for not only our country but from the global perspective as well. Immunizations help to prevent illness and death from vaccine-preventable diseases. The World Health Organization states that global vaccination coverage has remained consistent for the past few years; for example, the percentage of infants fully vaccinated against diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis has held secure at 83%. Programs for population-wide vaccinations have helped with the annihilation of polio in America since the late 1970’s, the eradication of smallpox, and the control of numerous other infectious diseases in the United States and other parts of the world.
Depending on the number of parasites and the type of parasites, the type of malaria can now be determined. Antimalarials with specific infectivity suppressive action such as derivatives of artemisinin and primaquine can be prescribed to reduce malaria transmission at all intensities. For falciparum malaria, which is very lethal, the patient should be referred to a larger facility for aggressive therapy as well as parenteral antimalarials or quinine derivative malaria drugs and supportive care (Bloland & Williams, 2003, p. 57).
Many parents ask, are vaccines safe for my child? I am one of those parents but the more research that I have done, has put wondering thoughts to rest. Many parents believe that vaccinations are linked to the causes of autism, multiple sclerosis, asthma and many other health problems. Although many parents have legitimate reasoning to not have their children receive vaccines, there are more pros than cons to receiving the vaccines. In rare cases children have became sick after immunizations, some life threatening. Because of vaccine safety and studies, the change in affordability of the vaccines, and recent decreasing results of major disease outbreaks, vaccines are helping keep children and our society safe.