When to get a tetanus shot

Written by Tang Da Wei

General Surgery

Updated on February 24, 2025

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A tetanus shot is generally recommended to be administered immediately after an injury for the best efficacy. If given within 12 or 24 hours, it still provides certain preventive effects. The tetanus shot mainly consists of tetanus antitoxin and represents passive immunization. It is usually advised in cases of deep wounds with small surface areas that can create anaerobic conditions inside. If tetanus bacillus is present in the wound and proliferates massively under anaerobic conditions, the patient may exhibit symptoms such as opisthotonos, asphyxiation, or even death. Therefore, it is necessary to administer tetanus antitoxin for prevention.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei

General Surgery

59sec

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What should be avoided after a tetanus shot?

Tetanus injections are a common preventive measure in daily life and are generally effective against tetanus bacillus infections. After receiving a tetanus injection, it is necessary to follow a specific diet. Typically, within a week of the injection, it is recommended to avoid spicy and irritating foods, as well as acidic foods. Beverages such as strong tea, coffee, and alcohol should also be avoided as much as possible. Additionally, foods that commonly cause allergic reactions, especially if one is usually allergic to certain foods, should be avoided under these circumstances. This is because if the immune system is weakened, the effectiveness against tetanus bacillus may diminish. Furthermore, it is crucial to get plenty of rest, drink more warm water, consume more fruits and vegetables, avoid strenuous activities, and avoid meat stimulants such as dog and lamb meat, among other considerations.

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Written by Li Jin Quan

General Surgery

36sec

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Can you drink alcohol with tetanus?

Tetanus is usually caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium tetani entering the bloodstream, leading to specific clinical manifestations, including muscle tension and rigidity. In severe cases, it can cause respiratory confusion and respiratory failure. If tetanus patients consume alcohol, because alcohol can increase blood circulation and dilate blood vessels, it facilitates the absorption of toxins, accelerating and worsening the symptoms of tetanus. Therefore, patients with tetanus should not drink alcohol and should maintain a light diet.

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General Surgery

40sec

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Can tetanus be fatal?

Tetanus can be fatal if not treated promptly. When infected with tetanus, early symptoms primarily include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, weak chewing, and sore jaw muscles, some may also exhibit increased reflexes or muscle rigidity. As the condition worsens, some patients show typical tetanus symptoms such as lockjaw, difficulty opening the mouth, risus sardonicus, opisthotonos, and stiff neck. As the condition further deteriorates, it can lead to difficulty breathing, or even respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest. If not promptly rescued, the patient can die.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan

General Surgery

47sec

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Is tetanus administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously?

Tetanus is widely used clinically and is known as tetanus antitoxin, intended solely to prevent the clinical symptoms caused by infection with Clostridium tetani. Therefore, a skin test must be conducted before administering tetanus injections. The common skin test involves creating a skin wheal intradermally; if the skin test is negative, one can proceed with the tetanus antitoxin injection. The injection can be administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. For example, the common sites include the deltoid attachment area on the upper arm for subcutaneous injections, and the deltoid or the lateral part of the buttock for intramuscular injections, among others. These are the injection sites for tetanus.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui

General Surgery

41sec

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

If tetanus vaccination is required due to an injury, one injection is sufficient. There are two types of tetanus shots. One is called tetanus antitoxin, which is extracted from horse serum. For this, a skin test is needed to check for allergies. If allergic, tetanus antitoxin cannot be used; if not, it can be used. The other type is refined tetanus antitoxin, also known as tetanus immune globulin, extracted from human serum. This type does not require a skin test and can be used directly, but it is more expensive than tetanus antitoxin. If tetanus treatment is needed for each injury, one injection is sufficient.