Can tetanus be cured?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on September 01, 2024
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Tetanus is an infectious disease that can be cured. Generally, tetanus is considered to be caused by the infection of Clostridium tetani, which produces toxins. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by muscle tension and rigidity, such as lockjaw, difficulty opening the mouth, risus sardonicus, stiff neck, and opisthotonos. In severe cases, it can involve the respiratory muscles and diaphragm, causing difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest, and even cardiac arrest. When patients with tetanus receive standardized and systematic hospital treatment, and if there are no severe complications, the vast majority of patients can be cured.

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Written by He Zong Quan
General Surgery
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How to avoid tetanus with minor wounds

If minor wounds are not properly handled, they can lead to serious problems, including tetanus. Treatment for minor wounds should be based on the integrity of the skin, the depth of the wound, and whether the object causing the wound was rusty. For simple minor wounds where the integrity of the skin is maintained and only abrasions are present, disinfection of the affected skin area may suffice. If the wound has compromised the integrity of the skin and is deep, especially if caused by rusty, sharp objects, it is necessary to thoroughly remove any foreign materials, clean the wound, and suture it. Dressing changes might be required, along with tetanus vaccination to prevent tetanus infection.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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How many times can a tetanus shot be administered in a year?

The tetanus toxin vaccine is used for emergency vaccination. The main ingredient of this vaccine is the tetanus antitoxin. It is best to be vaccinated within 24 hours, and the sooner the vaccination is administered, the stronger the potential for protection. However, the duration of protection provided by the vaccine is not very long, and the effect of the tetanus antitoxin medication generally lasts about a week. Therefore, vaccination within 24 hours can effectively prevent problems that may occur within that week. Generally, there is no specific number for the annual frequency, but it is usually recommended not to exceed three times per year. Of course, this depends on the degree of injury. If there is a risk of infection, then the vaccine should be administered since its preventive effect is currently considered the best and can achieve significant efficacy.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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chances of a person getting tetanus

Tetanus is a special type of infection that can enter the human body through skin, mucous membranes, or wounds and grows and reproduces in anaerobic conditions. The likelihood of a tetanus infection depends mainly on the depth and size of the wound, as well as what caused the wound. If the wound was caused by rusty nails or unclean sharp objects, and is both deep and large, the possibility of developing a tetanus infection is higher. Conversely, smaller or superficial wounds caused by relatively clean sharp objects are less likely to result in a tetanus infection.

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Written by Li Chang Yue
General Surgery
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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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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Does tetanus cause fever?

When a person is infected with tetanus, the early symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, weak chewing, sore jaw muscles, some muscle tension, or some hyperactive reflexes. As the condition worsens, typical clinical manifestations occur, such as difficulty opening the mouth, a sardonic smile, opisthotonos or neck stiffness, muscle spasms, muscle rigidity, and in severe cases, respiratory weakness or respiratory arrest. Some patients may develop a fever after being infected with tetanus. Therefore, some tetanus patients do show symptoms of fever.