Is tetanus easy to get?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on April 17, 2025
00:00
00:00

Tetanus is typically caused by the entry of Clostridium tetani into the body through broken skin or mucous membranes, producing toxins that lead to a specific infection. In daily life, Clostridium tetani is ubiquitous, present in places like moist soil, rusty iron, and some bamboo sticks. When an injury occurs, if the wound is deep, it should be promptly cleaned with hydrogen peroxide and saline solution. Then, it is best to go to a hospital to receive a tetanus vaccine within 24 hours. A wound that has been vaccinated against tetanus generally does not get infected. Therefore, when there is a wound, as long as the wound is timely cleaned, contaminants or foreign objects removed, and then a tetanus vaccine administered at a formal medical institution, tetanus is not so easy to contract.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
55sec home-news-image

How deep does a wound have to be to cause tetanus?

There is no specific rule about how deep a wound needs to be to develop tetanus. Generally, any relatively contaminated wound that is sharp and deep should receive a prompt tetanus injection, as tetanus is a strictly anaerobic bacterium. Generally, if a wound is particularly prone to forming a locally hypoxic environment, active immunization should be pursued. Usually, the following types of wounds should be given high attention: deep puncture wounds, bullet or shrapnel injuries, open fractures, or crush injuries. Burns, frostbites that require surgical intervention, and wounds that have not been treated in a timely manner after more than six hours should also be taken seriously. Attention should be heightened if there are foreign objects in the wound or a significant amount of necrotic tissue, especially if contaminated by surrounding dust or animal feces.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
39sec home-news-image

Which department do I go to for a tetanus shot?

Tetanus injections are generally given in the emergency department of public hospitals, and include tetanus toxoid and tetanus immunoglobulin. A skin test is required for tetanus toxoid, and it is contraindicated for patients with allergies. Tetanus immunoglobulin does not require a skin test and can be used directly. It is advisable not to drink alcohol before getting a tetanus shot, and for best effectiveness, it is recommended to administer the shot within 24 hours of injury. It is essential to administer the tetanus shot promptly for deeper wounds, small openings, open fractures, and wounds contaminated with rust or dirt.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming
General Surgery
36sec home-news-image

Why is tetanus given three times?

Tetanus is often derived from horse serum, which is a heterologous protein that many people might be allergic to. This is why a sensitivity test is done before administering tetanus shots; a positive allergy test indicates the presence of this antigen in your body, which can lead to an allergic reaction. To prevent such allergic reactions, desensitization is performed through intramuscular injections, which means administering the tetanus vaccine in three separate doses. This approach helps avoid allergies or even severe anaphylactic shock that might occur from the tetanus shot.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
46sec home-news-image

How long does a tetanus skin test take?

Tetanus is widely used clinically and is formally known as tetanus antitoxin. Therefore, if a patient is injured and the wound is deep, such as reaching the subcutaneous fat layer or even the muscle layer in severe cases, it is necessary to prevent tetanus infection by injecting tetanus antitoxin. Before injecting the tetanus antitoxin, it is mandatory to perform a skin test to prevent the patient from experiencing allergies, even severe clinical symptoms such as anaphylactic shock. During the skin test, generally, 0.1ml of tetanus antitoxin is diluted in 0.9ml of saline, and a skin test is performed on the forearm, observing for at least half an hour.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Jun
Emergency Surgery
1min 3sec home-news-image

Can tetanus be cured?

Tetanus has a high mortality rate from infection, but it is not incurable. Even in primitive tribes in Africa, as long as the patient can survive the initial complications such as respiratory muscle spasms leading to suffocation, heart failure, lung infections, etc., they may be lucky to survive. However, in our daily lives today, if we accidentally sustain skin injuries or abrasions, we must not take them lightly and should head to the hospital to follow the doctor's advice. If a tetanus antitoxin injection is needed, it must be administered. Do not neglect it due to inconvenience, as it may lead to severe consequences. The initial symptoms of tetanus might include general weakness, muscle soreness, and spasms of the chewing muscles, which can later lead to severe muscle contractions and forceful spasms throughout the body. The patient remains fully conscious and can painfully experience the disease. Most patients may die from complications such as respiratory muscle spasms, suffocation, heart failure, and lung infections.