Who says rust is associated with tetanus infection?

Parents often warn children to beware of rusty nails. They talked about the dangers of rust, warning about the risk of tetanus when accidentally struck by these nails.

This advice is definitely good. But actually it is wrong.

This does not mean that tetanus is not as dangerous as what parents say. In North America, the Cleveland Clinic estimates that 10% of tetanus cases are fatal. In countries with limited medical care, this number is thought to be much higher.

Tetanus has nothing to do with iron oxide, a chemical compound often called "rust."

Recently, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a new installment in the "Notes from the Field" series about a 6-year-old boy who had tetanus due to not being vaccinated in Oregon. The bacteria were incubated inside his small body for a few days, after which his body suddenly appeared convulsions, heart rate, blood pressure and abnormal body temperature. The boy survived, after 57 days of hospital treatment with a medical bill of more than $ 800,000.

However, in contrast to warnings about rusted nails, the disease has nothing to do with iron oxide, a chemical compound commonly known as "rust . " In fact, tetanus is caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani , which is found in dirt and stool everywhere . It can enter the body through deep wounds and shallow cuts, insect bites, during surgery and through any other scratches on the skin. It can enter from stepping on a rusty nail, or coming into contact with the soil in your garden. That is why we really need vaccinations.

If bacteria enter your body and you are not vaccinated, those bacteria begin to grow rapidly. The incubation period lasts from 3 to 21 days and shows no symptoms. But when bacteria begin to die, they form a poison that attacks the nervous system. Specifically, it inhibits GABA , which regulates muscle contractions. The result is a full body tension, from face tension to uncontrolled spasms in the back then to the toes.

It's not clear why many people believe that rusty nails are linked to tetanus.Iron oxide is basically harmless to the human body . Millions of people drink water transported by rusted iron pipes without compromising health. Or as Esther Inglis-Arkell argued on page i09, this could be related to the anaerobic environment in which the bacteria Clostridium tetani thrive. When iron oxidizes, it eats up oxygen in the atmosphere, creating a low oxygen environment for bacteria to grow. Rust does not cause tetanus, both can have a symbiotic relationship.

For thousands of years, tetanus tormented humanity. The ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates mentioned this disease in his works. But in 1884, researchers discovered how the disease worked and only 40 years later did scientists develop a vaccine for the disease. Today, three shots over 10 years are basically 100% effective at preventing tetanus. Therefore, make sure you have enough tetanus shots!

1. Get a tetanus shot: keep it up to 30 years!