What is the function of a tetanus shot?

Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
Updated on November 04, 2024
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A tetanus shot is used to prevent infection by the tetanus bacillus, because certain wounds, such as those that are deep and small or heavily contaminated, are susceptible to colonization by the tetanus bacillus. This bacterium thrives in anaerobic conditions. It typically enters the body through the skin or mucous membranes and produces toxins that cause muscle spasms, a specific type of infection. This often leads to symptoms like lockjaw, spontaneous spasms, and compulsory spasms, commonly affecting the jaw muscles, abdominal muscles, and limbs, and can be life-threatening. Therefore, for wounds that are heavily contaminated, deep, and small, it is essential to administer anti-tetanus treatment.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Is the risk of tetanus high?

Tetanus occurs infrequently, but once it appears, the condition can be very severe and may lead to death if not treated promptly. Tetanus infection is mainly caused by infection with the tetanus bacillus. The tetanus bacillus is an anaerobic bacterium that exists everywhere in nature. If the wound is very deep with a small surface area, and the conditions inside the wound become anaerobic, if the tetanus bacilli inside the wound are not thoroughly cleaned, it could lead to the rapid reproduction of the tetanus bacilli, releasing tetanus toxin and causing a tetanus infection in the patient.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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How long is a tetanus shot effective?

Tetanus generally refers to a specific type of infection caused by the entry of tetanus bacillus into the body through broken skin or mucous membranes, where it produces a large amount of toxin. Typically, the incubation period for tetanus is 6 to 7 days, but it can be as short as within 24 hours or as long as several months or even years. Therefore, if there is a wound, the first thing to do is to clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide or saline. Then, it is best to go to the hospital to get a tetanus vaccine within 24 hours. If the tetanus vaccine is not administered within 24 hours, it can still be effective if given within a week.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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How long should one abstain from certain foods for tetanus?

To determine how long to avoid certain foods for tetanus, it is necessary first to assess the onset and severity of the disease. During the onset of the disease, it is generally essential to avoid certain foods, and this dietary restriction usually lasts throughout the treatment process. If it concerns the administration of a tetanus vaccine, then dietary restrictions typically last about a week. Since the tetanus vaccine includes tetanus antitoxin, and its effective duration is about one week, it can effectively prevent tetanus bacterium infection during this time. Therefore, during this period, one must avoid certain foods, usually avoiding spicy and greasy foods. It is advisable to primarily consume a light diet, drink plenty of water, and eat plenty of vegetables and fruits to better aid in preventing tetanus bacterium.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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Can I eat tomatoes after a tetanus shot?

You can eat tomatoes after receiving a tetanus shot. There are two types of tetanus injections: tetanus toxoid, which requires a skin test, and tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test. If you are to receive the tetanus toxoid, it is essential to perform a skin test beforehand. If an allergy is present, its use is prohibited. Furthermore, it is advised to abstain from alcohol before getting a tetanus shot to avoid any skin redness caused by drinking, which can affect the outcome of the skin test, leading to a failure in the indication for the tetanus injection. There are no contraindications regarding eating tomatoes after a tetanus shot. It is generally recommended to get the tetanus shot within 24 hours after injury.

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Written by Zhang Peng
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What are the circumstances in which a tetanus shot should not be administered?

Tetanus is a strict anaerobic bacterium. Clinically, for deeper contaminated wounds, especially those contaminated by soil or punctured by rusty iron objects, an active injection of tetanus vaccine is recommended. Generally, for superficial scratches or clean and shallow wounds, as long as proper wound cleaning is performed, it is usually not necessary to administer a tetanus shot. For patients who have completed a full course of immunization or booster immunization within the last ten years and have high antibody levels in the body, if the wound is small, superficial, and free of foreign bodies or necrotic tissue residue, it is not necessary to inject the tetanus vaccine. For wounds that are larger, deeper, and heavily contaminated, with substantial residues of foreign bodies and necrotic tissue, or in cases where thorough wound cleaning is not achievable, an enhanced injection of tetanus antitoxin or immunoglobulin should be administered.