How long does tetanus antibody last?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on March 08, 2025
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The duration of tetanus antibodies varies under two scenarios. The first is passive immunity, which is achieved through injections such as tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin. The duration of immunity provided by these injections is relatively short. Typically, tetanus antitoxin lasts about four days, while tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks. After this period, the levels of antibodies gradually decrease, and the body may no longer be protected. Therefore, a single application of tetanus antitoxin or immunoglobulin does not provide long-lasting immunity. The second scenario involves antibodies produced by active immunity, generally through the injection of a vaccine made from attenuated tetanus bacilli. Antibodies usually start to develop about ten days after vaccination, with levels gradually increasing over two to three months and remaining high. This type of immunity lasts up to about ten years, but it is not lifelong. Regular boosters, guided by relevant tests, are required to maintain immunity.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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Does a tetanus shot hurt?

The tetanus shot causes slight pain. The injection site is in the muscle of the buttocks, where the pain is mild and tolerable. The purpose of the tetanus shot is to prevent infection by the tetanus bacillus, which tends to thrive in anaerobic conditions and in heavily contaminated wounds, such as those with soil and rust. Therefore, patients with deep wounds contaminated with soil or rust must receive anti-tetanus treatment. Additionally, it is important to promptly treat and dress wounds to prevent infection by the tetanus bacillus and to prevent wound infection. The pain from the tetanus shot is minor.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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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
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Can I drink alcohol after getting a tetanus shot?

After receiving a tetanus shot, it is generally advised not to consume alcohol in the short term. Alcohol should particularly be avoided on the day of the injection. This is because tetanus shots typically involve tetanus antitoxin, to which many individuals might have an allergic reaction. A skin test is required before the injection, and those who test positive are prohibited from using it. Drinking alcohol after receiving the tetanus shot can affect the effectiveness of the vaccine and increase the risk of delayed allergic reactions, therefore, it is advised not to drink alcohol on the same day. Moreover, tetanus shots are usually administered for deep wounds or heavily contaminated injuries, and consuming alcohol can hinder the healing of the wound. Thus, it is recommended not to drink alcohol on the day of receiving a tetanus shot.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Does tetanus cause fever?

When a person is infected with tetanus, the early symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, weak chewing, sore jaw muscles, some muscle tension, or some hyperactive reflexes. As the condition worsens, typical clinical manifestations occur, such as difficulty opening the mouth, a sardonic smile, opisthotonos or neck stiffness, muscle spasms, muscle rigidity, and in severe cases, respiratory weakness or respiratory arrest. Some patients may develop a fever after being infected with tetanus. Therefore, some tetanus patients do show symptoms of fever.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
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Can I get a tetanus shot in the emergency room?

The injection of tetanus shots is performed in the emergency department of regular hospitals. Tetanus shots are divided into tetanus toxoid, which requires a skin test, and tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test. If the skin test for tetanus toxoid is positive, indicating an allergy, it cannot be injected, and must be replaced with the slightly more expensive tetanus immunoglobulin. It is generally recommended to administer the injection within 24 hours after injury to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani. Clostridium tetani is an anaerobic bacterium. It is necessary to administer tetanus treatment for injuries that are deep, in anaerobic conditions, contaminated, heavily contaminated with soil, rust, open fractures, etc., since these conditions can be conducive to tetanus infection.