Can tetanus be cured?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on December 07, 2024
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Tetanus is a curable disease. It is usually caused by an infection with the tetanus bacillus, which produces a specific infection in the human body. Clinically, it is mainly manifested as muscle tension and rigidity, with the primary symptoms being difficulty opening the mouth, a sardonic smile, neck stiffness, and opisthotonos. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory confusion, respiratory arrest, or cardiac arrest. Therefore, patients with tetanus should go to the hospital for treatment as soon as possible. With standardized and systematic treatment, the vast majority of patients can be cured.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Do you need a tetanus shot for a scraped skin?

Tetanus bacterial infection generally refers to relatively deeper wounds. A deeper wound creates an anaerobic environment locally, where tetanus-causing bacteria can reproduce and grow, leading to infection. If the wound is just a scrape and not deep, it's less likely to form an anaerobic environment. In such cases, the likelihood of developing tetanus is extremely low. From personal experience, if it's just a minor scrape, simply disinfecting the area with iodine is sufficient; there is generally no need for a tetanus antitoxin injection.

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Written by Xing Wen Jun
General Surgery
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Do I need a tetanus shot for a cut?

For patients with a cut on the epidermis, it is first important to determine what object caused the injury. If the injury is from a rusty iron object and the wound is small and deep, it is mostly considered that the patient needs local treatment. Firstly, the patient should wash the wound repeatedly under running water with soapy water, and then clean and disinfect locally with hydrogen peroxide. After air-drying, apply iodophor for disinfection, and finally cover with sterile dressing or a bandage. It is generally recommended that patients avoid getting the area wet for up to three weeks. Additionally, patients should consider getting a tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin injection within 24 hours. If the injury is from another type of object and the patient has already dressed the wound after local treatment, the likelihood of tetanus infection is generally considered lower. It is recommended that the patient change dressings in a timely manner and keep an eye on it. Moreover, within a month, the patient should avoid alcohol and eat less spicy and irritating foods.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Is tetanus an anaerobic bacterium?

Tetanus is a specific infection often associated with trauma. In addition to various traumas, it can also occur in parturient women and newborns under unsanitary conditions. The pathogen is Clostridium tetani, an obligate anaerobe that stains positive under Gram staining conditions. Normally present in the intestines of humans and animals, it is distributed in nature and common in soil. This type of bacteria has strong resistance to environmental conditions and can withstand boiling.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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How to administer a tetanus shot if it is negative?

A negative tetanus needle test indicates that the patient is not allergic to the tetanus antitoxin and can continue with intramuscular injections, typically administered in the upper arm or buttock muscles, in doses ranging from 1000 to 3000 units each time. If the infection is severe or the tetanus injection is not timely, the dosage may be appropriately increased, generally by one to two times. The purpose of administering tetanus antitoxin treatment is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium. For patients with deep wounds or heavily contaminated wounds, such as those contaminated with soil or rust, Clostridium tetani can easily colonize. Therefore, for such patients, it is essential to perform tetanus antitoxin treatment while cleaning and dressing the wound.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Criteria for a Positive Tetanus Diagnosis

After a person is injured, if the wound reaches deeper parts such as the subcutaneous fat layer or even the muscle layer, it is essential to administer tetanus antitoxin to prevent infection from tetanus bacillus. Before injecting the tetanus antitoxin, a skin test must be conducted to prevent allergies and anaphylactic shock. Generally, after injecting the test agent, observations are made for 30 minutes. If there is an enlargement of the wheal, redness and swelling that infiltrates surrounding areas, and the patient feels itching, it indicates a positive result.