What are the Odds that Tetanus is an Endogenous Infection?

Abstract

Tetanus is  an infection caused by Clostridium tetani  characterized by  fever, cramped-up jaw, muscle spasms, headache, seizures, sweating, and trouble swallowing  3–21 days following exposure. About 10% of cases prove to be fatal. C. tetani  produce toxins that interfere with normal muscle contractions. Some infections seem to be both heritable and endogenous contradicting  the traditional infection paradigm consistent with the germ theory-and contamination as the exclusive pathway of infection. Objective: To project the mathematical odds of “ Tetanus is  endogenous”. Method: We applied the probability theory to relevant data to project, the mathematical  odds of certainty that “Tetanus is  endogenous” . Results: Eight observations consistent with” tetanus is  endogenous “and inconsistent with” tetanus is not endogenous” suggests  the mathematical certainty  that  “tetanus is  endogenous” is % 99.7. Discussion: Converging evidence suggest  some tetanus  infections may represent  endogenous infections that are produced  independent of contamination. At present we do not know the precise biological processes  involved in causing tetanus. Conclusion: Some tetanus infections maybe endogenous. Highlights: Tetanus is caused by Clostridium tetani characterized by muscle spasms, fever and  seizures. Endogenous infections may develop through pathways independent of contamination. Animals and humans harbor  clostridium tetani without sickness. Clostridium tetani is almost always associated with traumatic injuries. Neonatal tetanus (trismus nascentium) occurs from healthy mothers(5). The dramatic difference of incidence of tetanus between developed and developing countries for neonatal tetanus but not for tetanus suggests immunity by vaccination against the toxin produced by Clostridium tetani. Mathematical certainty  that tetanus is  endogenous= % 99.9