"lockjaw" is a common term for tetanus infection. if you believe you or someone you know has tetanus you need to call 911 immediately. luckily tetanus is very rare in the united states due to immunization programs. tetanus is caused by a bacterium called clostridium tetani that is often found in dirt soil and animal waste. a person can develop tetanus from an unclean wound (especially from dirty metal such as the old scenario of "stepping on a rusty nail") or from sharing needles when injecting illicit drugs. it's important to remember to get a tetanus booster shot every 10 years as an adult to keep your immunization up to date. other conditions can cause a problem that might be characterized as "lockjaw. " these include muscle spasms of the jaw temporomandibular joint disorders and other things. however if you have any of the symptoms of tetanus (notably: headache trouble swallowing) and you have been experienced a dirty wound shared needles with someone or have any other risk factors for developing tetanus then i urge you to seek medical attention. better to discover your problem is simply mechanical or related to a temporomandibular joint disorder than to risk a tetanus infection. wishing you all the best!
wat can one do to treat lockjaw