How many times do you need to get a tetanus shot?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on November 04, 2024
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The number of tetanus shots required depends on the specific condition of the wound and the patient's previous immunization history. Generally, for smaller, superficial, and cleaner wounds, which are considered to have a low risk of tetanus infection, the body can produce protective antibodies on its own. In such cases, a tetanus toxoid injection is given once a month, usually three times in total, allowing the patient's body to produce active antibodies and obtain long-term protection. If the wound is large, deep, and contaminated, with a substantial amount of foreign material or necrotic tissue, the chances of tetanus infection are very high. In such cases, passive immunization is actively conducted, usually involving tetanus antitoxin or immunoglobulin. Here, typically three doses of tetanus toxoid are administered to stimulate the body to produce active antibodies and achieve long-term protection.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
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Which part of the body is the tetanus shot administered?

Tetanus shots are administered in the buttocks or the muscular part of the upper arm, typically given as a muscle injection. Tetanus shots must not be administered intravenously. Before administering a tetanus shot, a skin test is conducted. If the skin test is positive, it is necessary to switch to a tetanus immune globulin that does not require a skin test; if the skin test is negative, a muscle injection can be performed. Tetanus is caused by the colonization of Clostridium tetani in the human body, producing neurotoxins, leading to a specific type of infection. Therefore, if the wound is deep and heavily contaminated, it is essential to promptly treat with a tetanus shot.

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Which department do I go to for a tetanus shot?

Tetanus injections are generally given in the emergency department of public hospitals, and include tetanus toxoid and tetanus immunoglobulin. A skin test is required for tetanus toxoid, and it is contraindicated for patients with allergies. Tetanus immunoglobulin does not require a skin test and can be used directly. It is advisable not to drink alcohol before getting a tetanus shot, and for best effectiveness, it is recommended to administer the shot within 24 hours of injury. It is essential to administer the tetanus shot promptly for deeper wounds, small openings, open fractures, and wounds contaminated with rust or dirt.

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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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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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When does tetanus occur?

Tetanus is an infection caused by the invasion of the body by Clostridium tetani. Clostridium tetani is an anaerobic bacterium and an opportunistic pathogen, which is likely to cause tetanus in conditions such as anaerobic environments, deep wounds, or heavily contaminated wounds. Therefore, in cases where wounds are relatively small yet deep, and are considered to be in an anaerobic environment, or are contaminated with rust or soil, or in situations such as open fractures, blast injuries, gunshot wounds, and animal bites, tetanus injection treatment is necessary. It is generally recommended to administer the injection within 24 hours, and a skin test should be conducted before the injection, with alcohol consumption prohibited.