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Answer
The incubation period
for tetanus is usually 1-2 weeks, but may vary between 1 day and several
months. A short incubation
period of 4 days or less usually indicates severe disease.
Secondary
infections are a frequent complication of severe tetanus, particularly
pneumonia or infections from IV cannulas or Urinary catheters. Septicaemia
and pneumonia with respiratory failure are some of the main causes of
death – others include haemorrhage and circulatory disturbances.
Mortality
increases with the severity of the disease, extremes of age and the presence
of secondary infections.
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