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Routine Care & Wellness

Tetanus

Tetanus, commonly called lockjaw, is a bacterial disease that affects the nervous system. It is contracted through a cut or wound that becomes contaminated with the organism. It can get in through even a tiny pinprick or scratch, but prefers deep puncture wounds or cuts like those made by nails or knives. Tetanus bacteria are present worldwide throughout the environment and are commonly found in soil, dust and manure. It can lead to "locking" of the jaw so the patient cannot open his/her mouth or swallow, or to death through suffocation. Tetanus is not transmitted from person to person.

Prevention

Vaccination is the best way to protect against tetanus. Due to widespread immunization, tetanus is now a rare disease. A combination shot, called a Td booster, protects against both tetanus and diphtheria. A Td booster shot is recommended every 10 years. People who have never received a Td shot, or cannot remember receiving one, should start with the 3-shot primary series over 7-12 months.

Symptoms

Common first signs of tetanus are a headache and muscular stiffness in the jaw (lockjaw) followed by stiffness of the neck, difficulty in swallowing, rigidity of abdominal muscles, spasms, sweating, and fever. Symptoms begin occurring usually 8 days after the infection, but may range from 3 days to 3 weeks.

Vaccine Safety

Td vaccine is very safe and effective. Most people have no problems with it. When side effects do occur, they are usually soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, and a slight fever. As with any medicine, there are very small risks those serious problems, even death, could occur after getting a vaccine. However, the risks from the disease are much greater than the risks from the vaccine. You cannot get tetanus from the vaccine.

Who should get Td vaccine?

All adults who have not had a Td booster shot in the last 10 years, but especially:

Agricultural workers where contact with dirt is likely.
Firefighters and construction workers.
Campers and gardeners.

FACTS ABOUT TETANUS

Tetanus is caused by a bacterium found worldwide in soil, dust, and manure.
You cannot get tetanus from the vaccine.
Tetanus can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine.
Tetanus is not transmitted from one person to another.
Recovery from tetanus may not result in immunity. Another attack could occur unless a tetanus booster shot is received every 10 years.
Non-immunized older people have only a 30% chance of surviving tetanus, even with the best medical care.
Forty to 50 cases of tetanus still occur each year, resulting in approximately 5 deaths annually in the United States. Most tetanus deaths occur among the elderly.
For adults, a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) shot every 10 years ensures protection against these two diseases.
People with tetanus may have to spend several weeks in the hospital under intensive care.

These facts about diptheria are courtesy of the
National Coalition of Adult Immunization

to reach their organization, please click here for more information.