Can I get a tetanus shot in the evening?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on April 03, 2025
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If a patient has a relatively deep wound, such as reaching the subcutaneous fat layer or even more severely, the muscle layer, it is important to prevent tetanus infection. It is advised that the patient must come to the hospital for a tetanus antitoxin injection into the muscle. After an injury, the sooner the tetanus antitoxin is injected, the better, as delays can affect the effectiveness of the antitoxin. Therefore, tetanus antitoxin can also be administered at night. Generally, one should go to the emergency surgery department of the hospital for the injection, as the emergency surgery department is on duty 24 hours a day, so it is possible to receive the tetanus shot at night.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Can tetanus be cured?

Tetanus is an infectious disease that can be cured. Generally, tetanus is considered to be caused by the infection of Clostridium tetani, which produces toxins. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by muscle tension and rigidity, such as lockjaw, difficulty opening the mouth, risus sardonicus, stiff neck, and opisthotonos. In severe cases, it can involve the respiratory muscles and diaphragm, causing difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest, and even cardiac arrest. When patients with tetanus receive standardized and systematic hospital treatment, and if there are no severe complications, the vast majority of patients can be cured.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Can I eat before getting a tetanus shot?

Tetanus shots are a common preventive measure. Once symptoms appear, they can directly impact many aspects of the body, and further judgement is based on specific conditions. Generally, if there are no special problems, a normal diet is acceptable. However, during eating, it is advisable to avoid spicy and irritating foods, as such foods can directly affect certain functions or enhance immunity, which is the most important treatment approach. Additionally, it is necessary to consider the patient's physical condition to assess whether the tetanus bacillus injection can still be effective beforehand, or if a light diet is required. This can provide a very precise approach, which is more beneficial for the prevention of subsequent vaccinations.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
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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.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Where to get a tetanus shot?

First, if a patient has a traumatic injury with a deep wound, there is a possibility of infection by tetanus bacillus. It's necessary to inject a tetanus shot into the muscle. After administering the tetanus shot, the wound must be thoroughly debrided. Generally, hydrogen peroxide and saline should be used to repeatedly rinse the wound, reaching the deepest part to ensure that the tetanus bacillus is completely killed. For getting a tetanus shot, one can go to regular hospitals, outpatient clinics, or emergency departments. It is also possible to get vaccinated at community health centers and township health centers where vaccinations are available.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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What should I do if I drink alcohol with tetanus?

If there are high risk factors for tetanus infection after an injury, and alcohol has been consumed, it is generally advisable to wait until sobriety before conducting relevant skin tests. Currently, there is no clear research on the relationship between alcohol consumption and an allergy to tetanus antitoxin. It is not very clear whether alcohol impacts the results of a skin test, so it is safer to perform the test after sobering up. Since the consequences of a tetanus infection can be severe, and the tetanus injection itself carries a certain risk of anaphylactic shock, which can lead to multiple organ problems and even be life-threatening, it is generally safer to conduct the skin test after sobering up and then proceed with the timely injection treatment. If the skin test is positive, tetanus immunoglobulin should be chosen promptly.