Tetanus

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a consequence of infection by Clostridium tetani, an organism found in the soil, manure, and everyday dirt. It enters the body through an open wound, particularly a puncture wound or the umbilicus of a newborn, and releases a toxin that travels to the central nervous system, causing severe muscle stiffness and spasms. Once the organism enters the body, the incubation period can be one to twelve days, or even longer. Tetanus is not transmitted from one person to another.

The wound through which the organism enters the body often heals before other symptoms appear. The illness begins with muscle stiffness in the neck and jaw and progresses over the next twenty-four hours into painful muscle rigidity and spasms. Normal muscle function can be so impaired that breathing may stop during the first three to four days. This can be a life-threatening situation that requires hospitalization and close medical attention.

If your child suffers a puncture wound, call your doctor promptly. Your child may need to have his tetanus immunization updated and the wound properly cleaned and debrided to avoid the risk of developing the disease. If your child displays symptoms of tetanus, even if he doesn't remember any injury that could have exposed him to the risk of the disease, call your doctor right away.

Supplements and herbs

The herbal treatments outlined below are aimed at supporting your child's recovery from a puncture wound. They are not intended to substitute for appropriate tetanus immunization or professional wound treatment.

See age-appropriate dosages of herbal remedies

• Echinacea and goldenseal combination formula will help boost your child's immune system. Give your child one dose, three to four times a day, for three days.
• Garlic has antibacterial properties. Choose an odorless form, and follow the dosage directions on the product label. Or you can give a child older than one year one to three cloves of fresh garlic mashed in honey each day.
• Make an herbal poultice. Add 1 tablespoon of any or all of the following to 1 cup of water: plantain, marshmallow root, goldenseal, and Oregon grape root. Bring to a boil and simmer for twenty minutes. Soak a washcloth in the mixture and apply it to the affected area for twenty to thirty minutes. Do this three times a day for two to three days.
• Super salve, an ointment made from chaparral, echinacea, hops, and usnea moss, fights infection and is soothing to injured skin. Apply to the wound three or four times a day.