Does tetanus cause fever in its early stages?

Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
Updated on December 06, 2024
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Tetanus is actually a disease caused by the tetanus bacillus, generally entering the body after mucous membrane damage. In the early stages of tetanus, there usually are no fever symptoms. Fever typically appears in the middle to late stages. Generally, it is preceded by symptoms like episodic muscle spasms or tonic spasms. During this period, the incubation period can be about one week. In this time, the patient may experience symptoms such as general fatigue, headaches, and dizziness. Under circumstances where infection is likely, it is crucial to administer tetanus antitoxin promptly to effectively prevent the disease. Since the disease's morbidity and danger increase significantly in its middle to late stages, and the likelihood of death is also relatively high.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Will a scrape lead to tetanus?

When a tetanus infection occurs, the wound is generally quite deep, for instance, reaching the subcutaneous fat or even the muscle layer in severe cases. Such deep wounds can create an anaerobic environment, which is conducive for the growth and reproduction of Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium. This bacterium produces exotoxins, primarily the tetanospasmin, which causes the associated clinical symptoms in patients. If it's merely a scrape or a superficial wound, tetanus infection is unlikely. Clinically, what is needed for such abrasions is to disinfect the area with iodine and then bandage it appropriately.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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How long does a tetanus skin test take?

Tetanus is widely used clinically and is formally known as tetanus antitoxin. Therefore, if a patient is injured and the wound is deep, such as reaching the subcutaneous fat layer or even the muscle layer in severe cases, it is necessary to prevent tetanus infection by injecting tetanus antitoxin. Before injecting the tetanus antitoxin, it is mandatory to perform a skin test to prevent the patient from experiencing allergies, even severe clinical symptoms such as anaphylactic shock. During the skin test, generally, 0.1ml of tetanus antitoxin is diluted in 0.9ml of saline, and a skin test is performed on the forearm, observing for at least half an hour.

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Written by Gao Tian
General Surgery
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Where can you get a tetanus shot?

General hospitals or surgical clinics are suitable; first and foremost, tetanus vaccines are for the prevention of tetanus, especially for deep wounds. Therefore, once an injury occurs, it is advised to visit a surgical clinic promptly to complete relevant examinations and undergo wound cleaning and disinfection. If necessary, oral antibiotics such as cephalosporins should be taken. Additionally, a tetanus vaccine must be administered within 24 hours to prevent tetanus. Afterwards, rest and proper diet are important; avoid spicy and irritating foods, consume high-protein foods, and ensure regular follow-up examinations.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Can you get a tetanus shot when you have a cold?

The patient is in a state of having a cold. During this time, if a part of the body is injured and the wound is deep, there is a possibility of infection by tetanus bacillus, which can cause corresponding clinical symptoms. This is because the deep wound facilitates the growth and reproduction of tetanus bacillus, producing exotoxins, mainly the spasm toxin, which can cause the patient to exhibit symptoms related to tetanus. Therefore, even if the patient has a cold, it is advised to seek timely medical treatment at a hospital for wound disinfection and to receive a tetanus antitoxin injection. Having a cold is not a contraindication for receiving a tetanus shot.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Is the risk of tetanus high?

Tetanus occurs infrequently, but once it appears, the condition can be very severe and may lead to death if not treated promptly. Tetanus infection is mainly caused by infection with the tetanus bacillus. The tetanus bacillus is an anaerobic bacterium that exists everywhere in nature. If the wound is very deep with a small surface area, and the conditions inside the wound become anaerobic, if the tetanus bacilli inside the wound are not thoroughly cleaned, it could lead to the rapid reproduction of the tetanus bacilli, releasing tetanus toxin and causing a tetanus infection in the patient.