TETANUS ANTITOXIN Meaning and
Definition
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Tetanus antitoxin is a medical substance derived from the blood serum of animals, primarily horses, that are immunized against the bacteria Clostridium tetani. This bacteria produces a toxin known as tetanospasmin, which causes the potentially lethal infectious disease known as tetanus. Tetanus antitoxin is specifically designed to neutralize the effects of this toxin in the body.
Administered through injection, tetanus antitoxin contains antibodies that are produced by the animal's immune system in response to the tetanus toxin. These antibodies work by binding to the toxin molecules and preventing them from damaging nerve tissue. By effectively neutralizing the toxin's toxic effects, the tetanus antitoxin aids in reducing the severity of the disease and improving the patient's chance of recovery.
Tetanus antitoxin is primarily used as a prophylactic treatment in individuals who have suffered a wound or injury that is at risk of being contaminated with tetanus bacteria. It is typically administered alongside a tetanus toxoid vaccine to provide immediate, short-term protection against the toxin until the vaccine has had time to stimulate the body's own production of antibodies.
While tetanus antitoxin can be highly effective in preventing or treating tetanus, it is not without risks. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, can occur following its administration, especially in individuals with a history of horse serum allergies. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the patient's medical history and conduct allergy testing before using tetanus antitoxin. In some cases, equine antitoxin may also cause serum sickness, which is a delayed immune response characterized by symptoms such as fever, rash, and joint pain.
Common Misspellings for TETANUS ANTITOXIN
- retanus antitoxin
- fetanus antitoxin
- getanus antitoxin
- yetanus antitoxin
- 6etanus antitoxin
- 5etanus antitoxin
- twtanus antitoxin
- tstanus antitoxin
- tdtanus antitoxin
- trtanus antitoxin
- t4tanus antitoxin
- t3tanus antitoxin
- teranus antitoxin
- tefanus antitoxin
- teganus antitoxin
- teyanus antitoxin
- te6anus antitoxin
- te5anus antitoxin
- tetznus antitoxin
Etymology of TETANUS ANTITOXIN
The word "tetanus antitoxin" has its etymology as follows:
1. Tetanus: The word "tetanus" is derived from the Greek word "tetanos" (τετανος), meaning "stiff" or "tense". This is because tetanus is a medical condition characterized by severe muscle stiffness and spasms.
2. Antitoxin: The word "antitoxin" is composed of two parts - "anti" and "toxin".
- "Anti" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "antí" (ἀντί), meaning "against" or "opposite to".
- "Toxin" is a term derived from the Greek word "toxikon" (τοξικόν), referring to a poison or a harmful substance.
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