What department should I go to for tetanus?

Written by Ai Bing Quan

General Surgery

Updated on March 12, 2025

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Tetanus is a special type of infection that should be treated through routine surgery or emergency surgery. It is caused by the tetanus bacillus, an anaerobic bacterium typically found in feces. Tetanus is easily contracted after an injury, especially in deep wounds. Clinically, tetanus manifests initially with difficulty in opening the mouth, followed by a grimacing smile, convulsions, and respiratory difficulties later on. Preventive measures include going to the hospital immediately after an injury to have the wound cleaned at the department of general surgery or emergency surgery and concurrently receiving a tetanus serum injection.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei

General Surgery

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How long does a tetanus shot last?

The duration of effectiveness for a tetanus shot depends on the specific type of injection used, as different injections vary in their duration of protection. Generally, the protection lasts about two to three days. In cases of infection, it is usually necessary to administer the vaccine within 24 hours. Under these circumstances, a period of about two to three days can be used to clean the wound, thereby achieving the best preventive effect. Additionally, there are other vaccines that are ten to twenty times more effective than this type of vaccine, with a typical prevention time ranging up to 15 days or even about a month. Of course, after receiving the tetanus vaccine, it is important to monitor for any allergic reactions, as different injections may vary in their degree of allergenicity, and individual reactions can differ based on personal health conditions.

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Emergency Surgery

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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.

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General Surgery

36sec

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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 Gao Tian

General Surgery

36sec

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Is it necessary to avoid certain foods after a tetanus shot?

After a tetanus shot, dietary restrictions are generally needed, especially within the first 24 hours after the injection. Therefore, it is advisable to go to the surgical department for thorough wound cleaning and disinfection as soon as possible. If there is pus, a drainage tube should be placed. Follow-up plans should be made based on the results. Normally, pay attention to rest and diet, eat less spicy and greasy food, keep the wound clean and dry, change dressings on time. If inflammation occurs, oral antibiotics may be needed to control the infection, followed by regular check-ups.

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Written by Wang Xiang Li

Emergency Medicine

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What should I do if I am allergic to tetanus shots?

The full name of the tetanus shot is tetanus antitoxin serum, which is mainly made from horse serum and has certain allergenic properties. If a patient is allergic to tetanus antitoxin serum, desensitization injections can be used, which involves gradually injecting one milliliter of the tetanus antitoxin serum into the body in four or more sessions, with each injection spaced about twenty to thirty minutes apart. After each injection, it is important to closely observe the patient's reaction, including checking for signs of itching in the nose, hives throughout the body, or difficulty breathing. If any of these symptoms occur, emergency treatment should be administered. If the injections of tetanus antitoxin serum cannot be completed multiple times, or if the patient is unwilling to accept this method of injection, tetanus immunoglobulin can be administered instead of tetanus antitoxin serum. Tetanus immunoglobulin does not require a sensitivity test and can be directly injected into the body without causing an allergic reaction, although it is more expensive.