How long does a tetanus shot last?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on February 09, 2025
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Tetanus prophylactic treatment is advised to be carried out as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours for optimal effectiveness. However, prevention treatment can still be carried out after 24 hours, as long as the disease has not manifested. Current research does not prove that tetanus prevention is ineffective after this period. Therefore, timely and effective preventive treatment should be implemented following high-risk tetanus infection factors, choosing either tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin. The incubation period for tetanus infection is about a week, and as long as the disease has not manifested, choosing appropriate medication can have a preventive effect. Tetanus antitoxin and tetanus immunoglobulin have different metabolic cycles; the half-life of tetanus antitoxin is generally about three days, whereas tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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Does tetanus hurt?

Generally speaking, receiving a tetanus shot can be painful. If there is a suspicion of infection with tetanus bacillus, it is necessary to go to the hospital to obtain tetanus antitoxin. A skin test must be performed before the injection, and the routine skin test is usually done on the inner front wall. Naturally, when the skin test needle is injected into the skin, the pain will be quite apparent. If the skin test result is negative, the tetanus antitoxin can be injected into the muscle, which may also cause pain and discomfort. If the skin test is positive, tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test, needs to be administered. Typically, if a person has a relatively small but deep wound, particularly one caused by rusty and dirty objects, there might be a risk of infection by tetanus bacillus. In such cases, it is advisable to get the tetanus injection at the hospital as soon as possible, ideally within 12 hours.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Can you eat eggs if you have tetanus?

Tetanus patients should eat more light food, with low fat and sodium content, and avoid strong irritants, such as spicy foods. They can eat more foods containing protein, because sufficient protein in the body can help heal wounds and also provide enough energy for the patients, which is beneficial to their condition. Therefore, tetanus patients can eat a moderate amount of eggs.

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Written by Gao Tian
General Surgery
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What should I do if the tetanus skin test is positive?

For patients, what to do if there is a positive tetanus skin test? Generally if it's positive, you can undergo desensitization injections or use anti-protein drugs. Therefore, in such cases, getting a tetanus injection is also a preventative measure against infection. It's recommended to visit a surgeon to complete relevant examinations and then decide on the next steps. At the same time, thorough debridement and disinfection should be carried out. Afterwards, rest, pay attention to diet by avoiding spicy and irritating foods, maintain cleanliness and dryness, change dressings regularly, and have regular follow-ups. With proper control, recovery is possible.

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Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
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Precautions for Tetanus

Tetanus is an acute, specific infection caused by the invasion of Clostridium tetani into a human wound, where it grows, proliferates, and produces toxins. Clostridium tetani is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacillus. What should be considered in cases of tetanus? Patients with tetanus must be isolated in a single room. The environment should be as quiet as possible to avoid any auditory or visual stimuli. It is important to prevent falls from the bed or bedsores, control or relieve spasms as a key aspect of treatment, and on this basis, prevent asphyxiation and pulmonary infections. Patients with mild conditions can be treated with sedatives and sleeping pills. Severe cases may require the intravenous administration of chlorpromazine. Patients with severe convulsions or those suffering from laryngeal edema may require a tracheotomy.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Do you need a tetanus shot for a scrape?

Whether tetanus vaccination is necessary for an abrasion depends on the severity of the injury. For a minor abrasion where the wound is not deep, you can repeatedly rinse the wound with hydrogen peroxide or saline solution to wash off contaminants. After that, disinfect with iodine and perform simple bandaging. Change the dressing as needed. Such abrasions do not require a tetanus shot. However, if the abrasion is severe, the wound is deep, heavily contaminated, or caused by rusty metal, it is essential to receive tetanus vaccination while cleaning the wound in the hospital to prevent tetanus.