The disease Tetanus, caused by the bacteria Clostridium Tetani, used to be a very serious problem. Also known as Lockjaw, it causes painful muscle spams, along with difficulty in moving the neck and jaw muscles. Before the dawn of vaccination, it was generally fatal.
The bacteria Clostridium Tetani, while generally associated with sharp, rusty objects, actually lives in soil, dust, and feces. However, it enters the body through these puncture wounds, which is why Tetanus and rusty metal are seen in pairs.
Tetanus, as stated previously, spreads from dirt, dust, and feces to open wounds, which stresses the importance of cleaning cuts. This is also why wearing the proper footwear and gloves when working with sharp objects outside is important.
There is a reason Tetanus is nicknamed Lockjaw. Symptoms of Tetanus include muscle stiffness (especially in the neck and jaw), fever, and difficulty swallowing.
As there is no actual cure for Tetanus, a number of strategies are used in combating the disease. Me time of Tetanus immune globulin can neutralize toxin at hasn't bonded, and sedatives can be used to calm muscle spasms. Besides that, all you can do is wait for it to take its course.
The Tetanus vaccine, which is also combined with the diphtheria vaccine and the pertussis vaccine into a vaccine known as Tdap or DTaP. Besides the vaccine, a sure fire way to prevent Tetanus is to wash open wounds very thoroughly.