<h2>Diagnosis of blindness</h2><blockquote><p>In many cases, blindness can be prevented or managed if caught early. Regular eye checkups, good hygiene, proper nutrition, and timely medical treatment are key to protecting vision.</p></blockquote><p>The diagnosis of blindness can only be done at a clinic. While you may be able to tell whether you can see or not, only an eye doctor can help you determine whether it is actually blindness and educate you on what you can do about it.</p><p>Your doctor will do a comprehensive eye examination, which may involve:</p><ul><li>Testing your visual acuity</li><li>Measuring your eyes’ pressure or doing a tonometry</li><li>Dilating your eyes with eye drops</li></ul><p>You may need an MRI or a CT scan if the examination reveals any abnormalities.</p><h2>Prevention of blindness</h2><p>Unfortunately, some types of blindness cannot be prevented. Blindness due to macular degeneration or optic atrophy, for instance, is unavoidable and a natural consequence of old age. But most types are preventable.</p><p>The goals of prevention are to:</p><ul><li>Protect your eyes from any disease</li><li>Prevent your vision from getting worse if you’re already having trouble with your vision</li><li>Minimize the difficulties you may face as someone with visual impairment</li></ul><p>So, how can you prevent blindness?</p><ol><li>Go for regular eye checks at least once a year</li><li>Maintain proper eye hygiene</li><li>Use protective eyewear such as glasses and safety goggles</li><li>Manage underlying diseases like hypertension and diabetes</li><li>Get treated against blindness-causing infections such as Trachoma</li><li>Go for genetic counselling to know your risk for developing eye diseases</li></ol><h2>Treatment of blindness</h2><p>The treatment of blindness depends on the underlying cause. Some causes may require drugs, others may require surgery or transplants.</p><ul><li><strong>Drugs: </strong>Antibiotics and anti-worm medications can help treat blindness caused by bacteria and worms.</li><li><strong>Supplements: </strong>Vitamin A supplements may help restore vision loss in individuals with xerophthalmia.</li><li><strong>Surgery</strong>: Refractive errors, cataracts, glaucoma, and other eye structural eye diseases can be resolved through surgery.</li><li><strong>Corneal transplant: </strong>transplanting corneal tissues from a healthy donor helps improve vision loss or impairment caused by corneal damage.</li></ul><p>Individuals with irreversible vision loss can use adaptive devices and technologies to help them navigate their environment and perform daily tasks. These may include braille devices, talking computers, and mobility aids like canes and guide dogs.</p><p>Note that treatment for blindness is best delivered by ophthalmologists who are readily available in most Nigerian hospitals. You may need to visit specialist centres, or contact your local clinics to access ophthalmologists who will treat you.</p><h3><strong>Conclusion</strong></h3><blockquote><p>Blindness is the loss of sight, either completely or partially, and it can affect people of all ages, including children. Common causes include infections, injuries, untreated eye diseases, and lack of proper eye care.</p></blockquote>

In many cases, blindness can be prevented or managed if caught early. Regular eye checkups, good hygiene, proper nutrition, and timely medical treatment are key to protecting vision.

Can you diagnose blindness?

Disease prevention and management

<p>Tetanus probably doesn't come to mind when you think of dreadful diseases, and you may not give tetanus injections much thought unless you step on a rusty nail. The symptoms of tetanus can be subtle and may not appear until several days after infection. People may mistake these symptoms for other less severe conditions, such as muscle strain. Yet, tetanus is one of the deadliest conditions on earth.</p><h2><strong>What is tetanus?</strong></h2><p>Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a severe bacterial infection that damages the neurological system. It causes tightening of neck and jaw muscles, which can make opening the mouth or swallowing difficult.</p><h2><strong>What is the source of tetanus?</strong></h2><p>Tetanus is caused by the <i>Clostridium tetani</i> bacterium, which is present in dust, soil, and animal waste. The bacterium enters the body through a wound or cut, producing the tetanus toxin. The toxin affects the nerves, causing the life-threatening symptoms associated with tetanus.</p><h3><strong>How is tetanus contracted?</strong></h3><p>Tetanus can be contracted in different ways. Such ways include:</p><ul><li>Contamination of a wound with dirt or materials containing tetanus bacteria.</li><li>Injury with contaminated blades, needles, and surgical instruments.</li><li>Transmission from an infected mother to a child through the placenta, contaminated cervix, or direct contact with an open wound.</li><li>The mother, who transmits the immunity to her newborn, can be protected against it by receiving an immunization for a few days after birth.</li></ul><h2><strong>What are the symptoms of tetanus?</strong></h2><p>Depending on the individual, tetanus symptoms might appear days to weeks after infection. The first sign is usually “lockjaw” or muscle spasms in the jaw. Other symptoms of tetanus include:</p><ul><li>Fever and sweating</li><li>Widespread muscle stiffness and pain</li><li>Seizures characterized by jerking or staring</li><li>Difficulty in swallowing</li><li>Sudden and involuntary muscle contractions &nbsp;often in the abdomen</li><li>Constipation</li><li>Headaches</li><li>Changes in blood pressure and heart rate, etc.</li></ul><h2><strong>What are the complications of tetanus?</strong></h2><p>Tetanus can readily degenerate into serious complications or death if an infected person does not receive immediate care. Immediate complications include:</p><ul><li>Aspiration pneumonia</li><li>Pulmonary embolism</li><li>Laryngospasm</li><li>Breathing difficulty</li></ul><p>In extreme circumstances, tetanus can also result in convulsions and respiratory collapse, which may lead to death.</p><h2><strong>How to prevent tetanus</strong></h2><p>Tetanus can be effectively prevented through vaccination. The recommended vaccine is the combination DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) or TdaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus.</p><p>Babies require three doses of DTaP, administered at ages two, four, and six months, followed by booster shots at ages 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years.</p><p>Preteens should receive a Tdap shot between 11 and 12 years old. Pregnant women should get a Tdap shot during the early third trimester to protect their baby from whooping cough. Adults who have never received the vaccine should get a Tdap shot, followed by a Td or Tdap booster every ten years.</p><p><img src="https://codahosted.io/docs/LEx1iPgn90/blobs/bl-_qM6TQZvGo/97883bfc14a8ba8a6b92e8ac2c083424530a24fbbcc12185572f045e5a3a2800cdcd21f7e3c4051d29c8248f6bb00f5f6a1e907fe268182ad70db50239a319b3fc5a5eecf2a9690c7fd0cce87f834bdb3d2c862755673271949b8222ad964613994bef51" alt="image.webp"></p><p>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@cdc?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">CDC</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/man-doing-syringe-on-woman-wearing-blue-shirt-9uo3cLLo0IM?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a> &nbsp;</p><h2><strong>What are the treatment options?</strong></h2><p>Treatment for tetanus varies depending on the severity of the symptoms. It usually involves a combination of therapies and medications, including antibiotics, to eliminate the bacteria from the body. These options include:</p><ul><li><strong>Tetanus toxoid injection</strong>: The injection contains a treated form of the tetanus toxin, called tetanus toxoid, that serves as an emergency immune booster against the effects of tetanus toxin.</li><li><strong>Antibiotics: </strong>While tetanus toxoid nullifies the tetanus toxin, antibiotic treatment helps manage any secondary infections that can develop due to the wound. The type of infection and the patient's medical background will determine the appropriate antibiotic.</li></ul><p><img src="https://codahosted.io/docs/LEx1iPgn90/blobs/bl-F8WQWqMIZH/bbf45a6cd5cce62c77c9e74274d2f5cf2b4b848bbd2a4dbb24f0a65236b602f4fc613a4d0ec21c5dffbb9055b072a95b270bbfc45222b2fd9bd0daa3179f684ff6203040c2b04a70c66eed204f57d3b4b32a3291a3ec712ee5271b9b9e25a07f3a1fff50" alt="image.webp"></p><p><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bottle_of_tetanus_antitoxin,_Germany._Full_view,_graduated_g_Wellcome_L0058962_(cropped).jpg">See page for author</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">CC BY 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons</p><ul><li><strong>Wound dressing: </strong>Open wounds can be cleaned with moderate antiseptic or soap and water. Surgical debridement could be required if the wound contains dead tissues.</li><li><strong>Use of muscle relaxants: </strong>To alleviate the stiffness and spasms caused by tetanus, muscle relaxants can be administered. These medications work by reducing the severity of muscle spasms and decreasing the risk of fractures and other associated injuries.</li><li><strong>Supportive care</strong>: Tetanus patients need supportive care, which could involve giving oxygen and IV fluids and medications, food, water, and oxygen. If the situation worsens, the patient may need specialized care in an intensive care unit (ICU).</li></ul><h2><strong>Vaccination can protect you from tetanus</strong></h2><p>Tetanus is a life-threatening disease contracted when the bacterium <i>Clostridium tetani </i>enters the body through cuts or wounds. The bacterium produces a toxin with deadly effects. The best approach to avoid tetanus is vaccination and maintaining good wound hygiene. Infected individuals should seek prompt medical care.</p>

Minor injuries can turn deadly due to tetanus. Learn how you can prevent it.

Disease prevention and management

Can you diagnose blindness?

What is Tetanus?