This type of tetanus often leads to generalized tetanus which is the most severe of the three types of infection. Generalized Tetanus . The most common symptom of generalized tetanus is stiffness of the jaw, or trismus . Another manifestation of the disease is the development of facial spasms with fixation of the smile and raised eyebrows. Symptoms usually begin on the 10th day after infection but the onset may be from 3 to 21 days.
Leukocytosis is usually also present.
Occasionally diagnosis can be obtained through Clostridium tetani- positive cultures. Treatment Treatment of tetanus is both supportive and aggressive. Pavulon or Succinylcholine may be administered for severe episodes of spasm. The patient requiring these paralytic agents must be intubated. Antibiotics such as Penicillin or Tetracycline may be given to combat the Clostridium tetani bacillus.