Is tetanus painful?

Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
Updated on December 25, 2024
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Tetanus is a specific infectious disease in surgery, caused by the exotoxin of Clostridium tetani. Tetanus infection can lead to rigid muscle spasms, which is a disease with a high mortality rate. Although its treatment is difficult, the prevention is effective, so tetanus infections can be avoided by vaccinating with the tetanus vaccine. The tetanus shot includes human tetanus immunoglobulin and tetanus antitoxin serum. The injection of human tetanus immunoglobulin is administered via muscle and is not very painful, generally tolerable. The injection of tetanus antitoxin serum, being a foreign protein to the body, requires an initial sensitivity test. The pain is evident, as the sensitivity test involves a skin prick.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Is tetanus serious?

Firstly, it must be acknowledged that tetanus is a curable, specific infectious disease. When the human body is infected with tetanus, the initial symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, difficulty in chewing, muscle soreness, or some heightened reflexes. As the condition worsens, muscle spasms and rigidity can occur, such as grimacing, lockjaw, difficulty opening the mouth, stiff neck, and opisthotonos. In severe cases, there may be difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest, and even cardiac arrest. If someone is suffering from tetanus, they should promptly seek systematic and formal treatment at a hospital. As long as there are no serious complications, the vast majority of tetanus patients can be cured, so tetanus is not as frightening as it may seem.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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Can I drink alcohol after getting a tetanus shot?

After receiving a tetanus shot, it is not allowed to drink alcohol. Alternatively put, if you drink alcohol, you should not get a tetanus shot. At the same time, one should avoid consuming spicy, stimulating foods, and foods that are likely to cause allergies, to prevent allergic reactions and local wound fever. Tetanus shots are primarily used for injuries, therefore, patients with injuries should not consume the aforementioned substances and are advised to eat foods high in protein and vitamins to promote wound healing. Moreover, it is also necessary to enhance local dressing changes. A tetanus shot is solely used to prevent infections caused by tetanus; only through thorough wound cleaning and improving the anaerobic environment can the presence of tetanus be potentially eliminated.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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How long does a tetanus shot last?

Regarding how long a tetanus shot lasts, it depends on which type has been administered. Generally, there are two types of tetanus injections: tetanus immunoglobulin and tetanus antitoxin. Typically, doctors perform a skin test before administering the tetanus antitoxin; if the patient has a positive skin test and cannot tolerate desensitization treatment, tetanus immunoglobulin can be administered instead. These two medications have different metabolic times and their preventive effects vary. The metabolic time for tetanus antitoxin is generally one week, whereas for tetanus immunoglobulin, it can last about 28 days. Therefore, how long a tetanus shot lasts depends on the specific circumstances of the patient’s injection.

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Written by Sun Ming
General Surgery
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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.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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How long does it take for tetanus to develop?

Tetanus is a specific type of infection caused by the toxin produced by the growth and reproduction of Clostridium tetani, which enters the body through damaged skin and mucous membranes and thrives in an anaerobic environment. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by lockjaw, muscle rigidity, and muscle spasms. After being infected with tetanus, people generally show symptoms within seven to eight days; in quick cases, symptoms can appear within twenty-four hours, while in longer scenarios, the onset can take several months or even years.