Is tetanus easy to infect?

Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
Updated on January 24, 2025
00:00
00:00

Tetanus is not easily contracted.

Tetanus bacilli belong to anaerobes, and are prone to occur in conditions where the wounds are deep, in an anoxic or low oxygen situation, heavily contaminated wounds such as with dirt or rust, and in cases of open fractures with large wounds. In these situations, tetanus bacilli can colonize the skin and mucous membranes, producing neurotoxins that lead to a series of complications. Therefore, anti-tetanus treatment must be conducted for wounds in an anaerobic environment, such as heavily arsenic-contaminated wounds.

For routine wounds that are shallow and small, it is sufficient to change the dressing.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
46sec home-news-image

Can tetanus in humans be cured?

Tetanus is a curable infectious disease, which is often misunderstood as incurable due to the severity of its symptoms upon infection. Typically, the production of toxins leads to specific infectious manifestations. Clinically, it mainly presents with symptoms of rigidity or muscle spasms and tension, including stiffness in the neck and possibly opisthotonos among other conditions; it may even cause diaphragmatic spasms and respiratory difficulties. Therefore, it is crucial to handle such infections promptly, as timely treatment can lead to a complete cure. Of course, once infected, this disease can also pose a significant threat to life safety, and currently, the clinical mortality rate is relatively high.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
54sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
36sec home-news-image

Do you need a tetanus shot for a scraped skin?

Tetanus bacterial infection generally refers to relatively deeper wounds. A deeper wound creates an anaerobic environment locally, where tetanus-causing bacteria can reproduce and grow, leading to infection. If the wound is just a scrape and not deep, it's less likely to form an anaerobic environment. In such cases, the likelihood of developing tetanus is extremely low. From personal experience, if it's just a minor scrape, simply disinfecting the area with iodine is sufficient; there is generally no need for a tetanus antitoxin injection.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Ming
General Surgery
36sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
54sec home-news-image

Contraindications after a tetanus shot

Generally, after receiving a tetanus shot, it is important to check for signs of redness and itching, which are indicators of an allergic reaction. If there are no signs of an allergy, there generally is no need for concern. However, if allergic reactions do occur, it is usually necessary to administer the vaccine in divided doses using a desensitization method to effectively prevent the worsening of allergic symptoms. Of course, after such reactions, it is crucial to avoid certain foods and to improve lifestyle habits. Dietary irritants or stimulants from tobacco and alcohol can potentially damage the vaccine, leading to its ineffectiveness. Therefore, the situation should generally be assessed based on the individual's condition. Additionally, it is important to ensure timely local disinfection to prevent infections.