Tetanus shots prevent dangerous infections. Tetanus, also called “lockjaw,” is a serious disease caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. When you get tetanus vaccines as recommended, your body makes antibodies, special proteins that will help your immune system fight the toxin produced by the bacteria.
Tetanus vaccines are safe
Most people who get a tetanus vaccine do not have any serious problems with it. However, side effects can occur. Most side effects are mild, meaning they do not affect daily activities. See the vaccine information statement for each vaccine to learn more about the most common side effects.
Emergency tetanus shots
If you are badly cut and have not kept up with your 10-year tetanus boosters, you should receive a tetanus shot at a nearby urgent care facility or emergency room. It is critical that you do so soon after being injured.
Diphtheria and tetanus
However, experts infer efficacy from protective antitoxin levels. A complete vaccine series has a clinical efficacy of virtually 100% for tetanus and 97% for diphtheria. A complete series is 3 doses for people 7 years or older and 4 doses for children younger than 7.
As with any injection, especially one given so frequently, there are risks that the vaccine might cause severe shoulder problems including bursitis, adhesive capsulitis, tendinitis and rotator cuff tear.
If you have an injury where you think tetanus could be a possibility and haven't had a booster shot within the past 5 years, you should get to the hospital within 24 hours. It's important to know that the size of the wound doesn't matter when it comes to tetanus.
Drug-Drug Interaction: TETANUS TOXOID may interact with bronchodilators (formoterol), steroids (budesonide, prednisolone, prednisone, methylprednisone, betamethasone), drugs used to treat Hodgkin's disease (procarbazine), influenza virus vaccine.
The first two shots are given at least four weeks apart, and the third shot is given 6 to 12 months after the second shot. After the initial tetanus series, booster shots are recommended every 10 years. Pritish K. Tosh, M.D.
The symptoms of tetanus usually develop 4 to 21 days after infection. On average, they start after around 10 days. The main symptoms include: stiffness in your jaw muscles (lockjaw), which can make opening your mouth difficult.
The incubation period — time from exposure to illness — is usually between 3 and 21 days (average 8 days). However, it may range from 1 day to several months, depending on the kind of wound. Most cases occur within 14 days.
Tetanus is fatal in about 10% of cases but causes muscle spasms, fever and trouble swallowing in all cases. The reason we associate tetanus with rust is because it's often found in soil that's rich in organic material like manure or dead leaves.
If you haven't had a tetanus booster shot in the past decade, your doctor may recommend getting one. Many people think of a tetanus shot as something you only need if you step on a rusty nail. Yet even in the absence of a puncture wound, this vaccine is recommended for all adults at least every 10 years.
Is the tetanus shot painful? It is common to experience some pain or discomfort while the tetanus shot is given. Like other shots, there could be pain, redness or swelling where the tetanus shot was given. Adults normally get a tetanus shot in the shoulder muscle.
If the injured person hasn't had a tetanus shot in the past five years and the wound is deep or dirty, your doctor may recommend a booster. The injured person should have the booster shot within 48 hours of the injury.
The most common side effects of a tetanus shot include: redness and swelling at injection site. body aches. fever.
You probably will be sore for a day or two near the spot of the vaccination. You also might experience some redness and swelling where the shot was given for 1-2 days. You can treat these symptoms by taking a non-aspirin pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. When these bacteria enter the body, they produce a toxin that causes painful muscle contractions. Another name for tetanus is “lockjaw”. It often causes a person's neck and jaw muscles to lock, making it hard to open the mouth or swallow.
A booster shot should be given within 48 hours of an injury to people whose immunization is out of date.
Why Do Tetanus Shots Hurt? If you have received a tetanus shot and your arm is sore, you may be experiencing discomfort due to your body's production of antibodies in response to the viruses in the vaccine.
Human or animal bites can become infected or transmit illnesses such as rabies. A tetanus shot may be required if you have not had one within 10 years; if you are not sure when you had your last tetanus shot, and you've been bitten, you should get one within 72 hours after your injury.
Vaccines that are known to cause the most injection site pain are pneumococcal-C-13, MMR, and HPV vaccines. These vaccines should be administered last, after other vaccines if multiple vaccines are given at one visit.
Because of the widespread use of vaccines, cases of tetanus are rare in the United States and other parts of the developed world. The disease remains a threat to people who aren't up to date on their vaccinations. It's more common in developing countries.
A number of vaccines can cause nerve damage or pain. The most common are: Diphtheria, Tetanus or Pertussis (DTap, DT, Td, Tdap, DTP-Hib) Influenza (Flu)