Cut by scissors on the hand requires a tetanus shot.

Written by Xing Wen Jun
General Surgery
Updated on May 24, 2025
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If the patient's hands were cut by scissors, first check if the scissors were rusty. If the scissors are rusty and the wound is small and deep, there's a higher risk of tetanus infection. It is advised that the patient should first rinse the wound under running water with soap repeatedly, then use hydrogen peroxide for local rinsing and scrubbing, followed by applying sterile iodophor for disinfection, and then cover with sterile dressing. It is recommended that the patient receive an injection of tetanus antitoxin within 24 hours for proactive prevention. If the scissors were made of stainless steel and relatively clean, and the wound is shallow, local treatment may suffice, and tetanus antitoxin injection generally isn't necessary. Additionally, during recovery, the patient should change dressings timely to prevent infection or the possibility of the wound splitting. If necessary, after cleaning and disinfecting, active suturing treatment should be considered.

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Does tetanus cause fever?

When tetanus occurs, early symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, weak chewing, sore jaw muscles, or tense facial muscles. Some cases show exaggerated reflexes or muscle tension. Generally, tetanus has its typical manifestations, such as difficulty in opening the mouth, risus sardonicus (a sardonic smile), opisthotonus (arching of the back), and stiff neck. In clinical practice, a few cases may even have a fever. Therefore, fever in tetanus is only seen in individual cases.

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How long does it take for tetanus to develop?

Tetanus is an acute, specific infection caused by the invasion of Clostridium tetani into a human wound, where it grows and reproduces, producing toxins. Tetanus is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus that is widely present in the external environment. Tetanus occurs only when tetanus bacillus grows and reproduces locally in a wound and produces exotoxins, which are the cause of the disease. The toxins of tetanus include spasm toxin and hemolysin. The incubation period of tetanus generally ranges from six to ten days. In some cases, it can occur within 24 hours or take as long as 20 to 30 days, or even months, particularly following the removal of foreign bodies or shrapnel. Neonatal tetanus generally occurs seven days after umbilical cord separation, clinically also known as the "seven-day wind." Generally, the shorter the duration of the incubation period or prodromal symptoms, the more severe the symptoms and the higher the mortality rate.

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How long does the tetanus shot last?

The duration of the effectiveness of a tetanus shot depends on whether tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin is administered following a suspected tetanus infection. Both types are forms of artificial passive immunity, providing immediate specific immunity after injection, mainly for treatment or emergency prevention. The metabolism and immune duration of these two injections vary: generally, tetanus antitoxin lasts about seven days, while tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks. Therefore, the specific duration of the effectiveness of a tetanus shot must be determined based on the individual injection circumstances. For suspected tetanus infections, it is generally advised to administer the injection as soon as possible. It's not that the injection will be ineffective if administered after a certain time, but rather that effective prevention before the onset of the disease can still be beneficial.

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How long does a tetanus shot last?

After receiving a tetanus shot, it generally lasts for about six months. However, if you are injured again after six months and the wound is heavily contaminated, such as with contaminated soil or rust, and the wound is large and deep, it is advised to undergo tetanus treatment again. The purpose of the tetanus shot is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani, which is an anaerobic bacterium. It tends to proliferate in anaerobic environments and in conditions of heavy contamination by rust and soil. Therefore, if after tetanus treatment the injury is relatively minor, shallow, and comparatively clean, it is sufficient to clean and dress the wound and keep it dry. If the wound is heavily contaminated, large, and deep, it is recommended to administer the tetanus shot again.

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How long does a tetanus shot last?

Tetanus prophylactic treatment is advised to be carried out as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours for optimal effectiveness. However, prevention treatment can still be carried out after 24 hours, as long as the disease has not manifested. Current research does not prove that tetanus prevention is ineffective after this period. Therefore, timely and effective preventive treatment should be implemented following high-risk tetanus infection factors, choosing either tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin. The incubation period for tetanus infection is about a week, and as long as the disease has not manifested, choosing appropriate medication can have a preventive effect. Tetanus antitoxin and tetanus immunoglobulin have different metabolic cycles; the half-life of tetanus antitoxin is generally about three days, whereas tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks.