Where is the tetanus shot given?

Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
Updated on June 16, 2025
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Tetanus injections include tetanus antitoxin and tetanus immune globulin, which are generally administered in the emergency or outpatient departments of public hospitals. Tetanus antitoxin requires a skin test before use, and patients allergic to it are prohibited from using it. Tetanus immune globulin does not require a skin test and can be injected directly. It is recommended to avoid alcohol before undergoing tetanus treatment, and it is generally suggested that the injection be administered within 24 hours after injury for better effectiveness. Overall, tetanus injections are usually performed in the outpatient or emergency departments of regular hospitals.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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Can I take a bath after getting a tetanus shot?

It's not recommended to take a bath immediately after receiving a tetanus shot. First, the wound requiring a tetanus shot may either be deep, heavily contaminated, or relatively large. After receiving a tetanus shot in the buttocks or the deltoid muscle of the upper arm, it is essential to enhance wound dressing changes and keep the wound dry, which is why bathing is not advised. If it's just a simple tetanus injection site, it can generally be exposed to water a few hours later. However, other wounds on the body should be kept dry. Therefore, it is better to take a bath when wounds on other parts of the body have healed well to avoid worsening infections and delaying healing.

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Written by Gao Jun
Emergency Surgery
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Initial symptoms of tetanus

The bacterium that causes tetanus is Clostridium tetani, which is an anaerobic bacterium. If the wound is deep and enclosed in an environment lacking oxygen, it creates a suitable environment for the growth and reproduction of Clostridium tetani. Its incubation period is generally around one week. Early symptoms may include general fatigue, localized muscle tension, and uncontrollable spasms. The first muscles affected are usually the facial chewing muscles, and it can then progress to intense, spasmodic contractions of muscles throughout the body, and even cause fractures. Mild stimuli such as light, sound, or drinking water can trigger and worsen these symptoms, somewhat similar to rabies. However, a characteristic feature of tetanus is that the patient remains mentally clear. Most patients may die from respiratory spasms leading to asphyxiation, heart failure, or lung infections.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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Can you drink alcohol with tetanus?

After receiving a tetanus vaccine, it is not recommended to drink alcohol. It is best to avoid spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods. Usually, when patients are injured, they may need to receive a tetanus vaccine. Especially when injured by rusty metal, the tetanus vaccine can effectively prevent tetanus. However, drinking alcohol at the same time as receiving the tetanus vaccine can easily lead to a drug reaction, causing adverse reactions. For example, increased heart rate, dizziness, palpitations, vomiting, and even shock, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. Furthermore, drinking alcohol is also detrimental to the healing of wounds. Depending on the recovery of the body, patients can generally drink a small amount of alcohol after a week.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Does tetanus infect people?

Tetanus is not contagious. Tetanus can be prevented through vaccination, and it is currently the only non-contagious disease that can be prevented by vaccines. Typically, the DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) combination vaccine is used. The immunization schedule includes injections at the age of 3, 4, 5, and 18 months after birth, with a booster shot at the age of 6 years. Such a schedule can provide long-lasting immunity, generally maintaining protection for over 10 years. In cases of wounds suspected of being contaminated with tetanus, passive immunization should be performed promptly. Typically, tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin is chosen, ideally administered within 12 hours, though it can still be effective if given after this time.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Can I breastfeed after getting a tetanus shot?

Current research indicates that lactating women are not contraindicated for tetanus vaccination; the main contraindication is allergy to the tetanus vaccine. Generally, if there are high-risk factors for tetanus infection, timely wound debridement and care should be performed, followed by early administration of passive immunization with tetanus vaccine. Generally, tetanus antitoxin can be used based on the results of a skin test. If the skin test result is strongly positive, its use should be avoided, and tetanus immunoglobulin should be chosen instead. The effective metabolic period of tetanus immunoglobulin is about three weeks. If high-risk factors for infection still exist beyond this time limit, timely enhancement of immune therapy should be considered. Regarding the tetanus vaccine, it is generally advised that the earlier it is administered, the better, as early administration can neutralize the tetanus toxin already present in the blood. However, if the tetanus toxin has already bound to nerve cells, treatment becomes relatively difficult.