Medical Treatment

• antibiotics (for example, metronidazole) to kill the bacteria, tetanus booster shot, if necessary, and occasionally, antitoxin to neutralize the toxin



• wound cleansing to remove any obvious bacteria collections (abscesses) or foreign bodies



• supportive measures



• pain medicine as needed



• sedatives such as diazepam (Valium) to control muscle spasms



• ventilator support to help with breathing in the event of spasms of the vocal cords or the respiratory muscles



• IV rehydration because, as muscles spasm constantly, increased metabolic demands are placed on the body