Does tetanus require a skin test?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on June 07, 2025
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After a patient is injured, if the wound is relatively deep, such as reaching the subcutaneous fat or deeper to the muscles, it is generally required to administer a tetanus shot. The most commonly used tetanus remedy in clinical practice is called tetanus antitoxin. Before administering tetanus antitoxin, a skin test must be conducted. This is because if an allergic reaction to tetanus antitoxin occurs, it can lead to anaphylactic shock, characterized by increased heart rate, decreased blood pressure, reduced blood oxygen saturation, with severe cases resulting in coma or even death. Therefore, it is clinically required to perform a skin test before administering a tetanus shot to prevent allergic reactions and the occurrence of anaphylactic shock.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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After getting a tetanus shot, what should one pay attention to?

In clinical settings, the tetanus vaccine is called tetanus antitoxin. Tetanus antitoxin is prone to allergies. After administering tetanus antitoxin, it is necessary to observe the patient for 30 minutes to check for any allergic reactions, such as breath-holding, chest tightness, or the appearance of a rash on the skin at the injection site. Furthermore, if the patient does not exhibit the aforementioned symptoms, care must also be taken with their diet after receiving the tetanus vaccine. It is important to advise the patient not to consume alcohol, to eat light foods, to drink plenty of water, and to eat foods high in fiber, vitamins, and protein. The patient should avoid seafood and similar items.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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What will happen with tetanus?

Firstly, it should be noted that tetanus is a curable specific infection. Typically, after being infected with tetanus, the early symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, refusal of weakness, jaw pain, or some hyperreflexia. As the condition worsens, symptoms such as muscle spasms, muscle rigidity, risus sardonicus, difficulty opening the mouth, lockjaw, opisthotonos, and stiffness in the neck can occur. In severe cases, there may be difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest, and even cardiac arrest. The vast majority of tetanus patients can fully recover through proper and systematic treatment.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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How many times do you need to get a tetanus shot?

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 Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Is there still a cure for tetanus attacks?

Tetanus is usually a specific infection caused by Clostridium tetani in the human body. In the early stages of tetanus, it mainly manifests as dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, weak chewing, some muscle soreness, or increased muscle reflexes. As the condition worsens, muscle spasms and rigidity may occur. During a tetanus attack, symptoms mainly include lockjaw, difficulty opening the mouth, a sardonic smile, stiffness in the neck, opisthotonus, and in severe cases, difficulty breathing, respiratory arrest, or cardiac arrest. When a tetanus attack occurs, it is imperative to go to the hospital for treatment timely. Through standard treatment and care, most cases of tetanus can be cured if there are no particularly severe complications.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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How long should you avoid certain foods after getting a tetanus shot?

Tetanus antitoxin medication serves a preventative function and is commonly used as a vaccine. Receiving a tetanus shot is essentially aimed at preventing infections from the tetanus bacterium. Generally, there are dietary restrictions to follow after getting the shot. The effect of this medication typically lasts about a week, during which it is necessary to observe these dietary restrictions. It is usually advisable to avoid spicy or cold foods, such as chili peppers, beef, lamb, dog meat, or seafood. These should be eaten sparingly or avoided altogether. Otherwise, these spicy foods might directly affect the efficacy of the tetanus antitoxin. In such cases, the prevention of tetanus infections could be significantly reduced, thereby increasing the likelihood of contracting tetanus bacterium.