Can tetanus be fatal?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on March 05, 2025
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Firstly, it must be acknowledged that if a patient with tetanus does not receive timely treatment, it can be fatal. When tetanus infection occurs, the early symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, weak chewing, sore jaw muscles, or some heightened reflexes, or muscle tension. As tetanus worsens, it can manifest as typical clinical symptoms, mainly lockjaw, difficulty opening the mouth, sardonic smile, stiff neck, opisthotonos, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest, and even cardiac arrest. If emergency treatment is not administered promptly, the patient can die.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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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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Written by Gao Tian
General Surgery
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How many shots are given for tetanus?

Generally, a single injection is enough. Therefore, it is recommended to go to surgery for thorough debridement and disinfection. Subsequent treatment will be based on the results, and generally, if handled promptly, there shouldn't be any major issues. Also, avoid spicy and irritating foods during the treatment period, and consider eating some foods that help with wound healing, such as proteins. Afterwards, keep the wound clean and dry, change dressings regularly, and have regular check-ups. This is not a big issue and can recover quickly with proper care.

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Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
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How to administer a tetanus shot: steps

First, an allergy test must be conducted. Based on the results of the allergy test, the application of tetanus antitoxin is decided. The allergy test involves drawing 0.1 ml of antitoxin serum, diluting it with 0.9 ml of isotonic saline, and then injecting 0.05 to 0.1 ml of the diluted solution intradermally on the flexor side of the forearm. An equivalent amount of isotonic saline is injected on the other forearm as a control. Observe for 15-30 minutes. If there is no nodule or resistance at the injection site, it is a negative result. Patients with a negative result can have the rest of the original liquid injected subcutaneously. If a red nodule of about one centimeter or resistance appears at the serum injection site, the allergy test is positive. In this case, a desensitization injection is needed. The desensitization injection involves diluting the required injection fluid and the antitoxin serum with isotonic saline to ten times the volume and administering it subcutaneously in divided doses. After dilution to ten times the volume, which is 10 ml, the initial dose of 1 ml is administered, followed by 2 ml, 3 ml, and 4 ml, with each injection spaced 30 minutes apart until completed.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Tetanus is what it means.

The pathogen of tetanus is Clostridium tetani, which abundantly exists in our surrounding environment, such as rusty iron and moist soil. When the skin or mucous membranes of the human body are damaged, Clostridium tetani enters the body through these breaches. In an anaerobic environment, it grows and proliferates extensively, thereby producing toxins that cause a specific infection called tetanus. The main clinical manifestations are lockjaw, muscle spasms, and rigidity.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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Tetanus onset in several days

Tetanus is a type of infection specifically related to the surgical context, caused by Clostridium tetani. It can invade the human body through skin or mucosal wounds, and flourishes in an anaerobic environment. The toxin produced by the tetanus bacterium primarily invades the neurons of the human nervous system, causing muscle spasms such as lockjaw, episodic spasms, and compulsive spasms, with muscles like the lumbar, back, and abdominal muscles being mainly affected. The incubation period of tetanus is usually seven to eight days, with the shortest being within 24 hours and the longest can extend to several months or even years.