Where is the tetanus shot administered?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on April 22, 2025
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When a wound is severely contaminated, or deep, and there is a risk factor for tetanus infection, it is generally necessary to go to a regular hospital to receive a tetanus vaccine. The injection sites for the tetanus vaccine are mainly two places: first, the deltoid muscle of the upper arm; second, the gluteus maximus of the buttocks. Most hospitals currently advocate administering the tetanus vaccine in the gluteus maximus. After receiving the tetanus vaccine, one must be observed for half an hour before leaving.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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What will happen with tetanus?

In clinical settings, tetanus is a type of surgical-specific infectious disease caused by the infiltration of Clostridium tetani through human skin, mucous membranes, or wounds. Tetanus toxin is a true anaerobic bacterium that thrives in oxygen-deprived environments and is highly resistant to environmental conditions. Clostridium tetani mainly produces tetanus toxin and tetanolysin, which can cause whole-body muscle spasms, including facial muscle spasms and difficulty opening the mouth. It can also lead to persistent spasms of the respiratory muscles and diaphragm, causing respiratory arrest and, in severe cases, can result in patient death.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Symptoms of Tetanus

What are the symptoms of tetanus? Generally, the prodromal symptoms include overall weakness, headache, difficulty swallowing, or limited movement of the head and neck. If the condition progresses further, there may be typical symptoms such as difficulty opening the mouth or tense jaw muscles, leading to muscle spasms in the limbs, possibly causing spasms of the larynx, which can lead to breathing difficulties or even suffocation. Hence, it is a particularly severe manifestation. Some individuals may experience generalized tonic muscle spasms throughout the body, a milder manifestation with a typically longer incubation period. Therefore, in the treatment of tetanus, proactive active immunization should be pursued.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Is it necessary to get a tetanus shot?

Getting a tetanus shot is very necessary if a patient has had an injury or has wounds on the body. Without a tetanus shot, there might be a risk of tetanus infection. The main reason is due to the presence of tetanus bacillus spores in the natural environment, which could colonize within the wound if it's exposed. This can potentially lead to a tetanus infection. Severe cases can present with symptoms such as opisthotonos, breathing difficulties, suffocation, and could even lead to death. The tetanus shot involves injecting tetanus antitoxin into the patient's body, which is a form of passive immunity and can prevent some symptoms of tetanus infection.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Can you get a tetanus shot when you have a cold?

The patient is in a state of having a cold. During this time, if a part of the body is injured and the wound is deep, there is a possibility of infection by tetanus bacillus, which can cause corresponding clinical symptoms. This is because the deep wound facilitates the growth and reproduction of tetanus bacillus, producing exotoxins, mainly the spasm toxin, which can cause the patient to exhibit symptoms related to tetanus. Therefore, even if the patient has a cold, it is advised to seek timely medical treatment at a hospital for wound disinfection and to receive a tetanus antitoxin injection. Having a cold is not a contraindication for receiving a tetanus shot.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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How to administer an injection if the tetanus skin test is negative

A negative tetanus skin test indicates that there is no allergy to tetanus antitoxin, and 1500 to 3000 units of tetanus antitoxin can be directly administered via intramuscular injection in the upper arm or buttock. If the wound is heavily contaminated or the injection is not timely, the dose may be doubled or tripled at discretion, and it is also necessary to clean and dress the wound. The purpose of administering tetanus antitoxin via intramuscular injection is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani. Therefore, patients with heavily contaminated or deep wounds must receive tetanus antitoxin treatment.