Can tetanus be fatal?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on September 28, 2024
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Firstly, severe tetanus, if not treated in time, can be fatal. When infected with tetanus, the early symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, weak chewing, soreness or cramping of the jaw muscles, or muscle tension. Of course, when tetanus is severe, it can manifest as difficulty opening the mouth, risus sardonicus, opisthotonos, and stiff neck. In severe cases, there may be difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest, and even cardiac arrest. If in this situation, we do not promptly carry out emergency treatment, the tetanus patient can die.

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Written by Li Chang Yue
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Can a tetanus shot be administered again?

If a tetanus shot is administered within 24 to 48 hours after injury, it can effectively prevent tetanus. However, if the tetanus shot is given a week or more after the injury, the effectiveness and relevance of the booster are generally not ideal. In such cases, tetanus immunoglobulin can be used for comprehensive antibody therapy to treat and prevent tetanus. Therefore, when the body sustains external injuries or certain infectious foci, it is crucial to promptly administer a tetanus shot intramuscularly, ideally within 24 hours, to effectively stimulate the body to produce the corresponding antibodies for protection.

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Which part of the body is the tetanus shot administered?

Tetanus injections are given as intramuscular injections in the upper arm or the buttock. Tetanus vaccines include tetanus antitoxin, which requires a skin test. Patients with a positive skin test must either undergo desensitization therapy or avoid using it, and can switch to tetanus immunoglobulin, which doesn't require a skin test but is more expensive than tetanus antitoxin. The purpose of the tetanus shot is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium. It is particularly important for patients with deep wounds or heavily contaminated wounds; or wounds contaminated with rust or soil to receive tetanus treatment to prevent Clostridium tetani from colonizing the body through wound mucosa and producing neurotoxins that affect breathing.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
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Is mild tetanus easy to treat?

Mild tetanus is easy to treat. Mild tetanus presents with slight twitching, numbness in the limbs, and stiffness, with shallow impairment of consciousness and shorter duration of convulsions. Appropriate sedatives or antiepileptic drugs such as midazolam or phenobarbital sodium can be used to control symptoms. Treatment with penicillin to combat tetanus bacillus also yields good results. Additionally, it is important to rest often, avoid excessive fatigue, drink plenty of water, and consume fresh vegetables and fruits. Avoid spicy and irritating foods. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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General Surgery
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Do you still need a skin test for tetanus allergy?

Under normal circumstances, if there is an allergy to tetanus, a skin test is not required. If tetanus vaccination is indeed necessary, human immunoglobulin can be injected, and this does not require a skin test. 250 units can be injected directly. Additionally, tetanus antitoxin desensitization injections can be used. The so-called desensitization injection involves diluting 1500 units of tetanus antitoxin into doses of 0.1 ml, 0.2 ml, 0.3 ml, and 0.4 ml, totaling 1 ml, and administering it in four doses, each 20 minutes apart. After the injections are completed, an observation period of 30 minutes is required to ensure there are no adverse reactions before the patient can leave.

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A tetanus shot is used for what?

The tetanus shot is a type of vaccine primarily used to prevent infection by the tetanus bacterium. Tetanus bacteria are anaerobic and can typically be found on rusty nails, rusty blades, and other objects that cause cuts. In such cases, an intramuscular injection of tetanus antitoxin is needed to prevent infection by the tetanus bacterium. Although the chances of contracting tetanus are relatively low, the mortality rate is quite high if one does get infected. Therefore, it is crucial to take it seriously to avoid severe adverse consequences.