Will tetanus cause muscle soreness?

Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
Updated on March 03, 2025
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Tetanus can cause muscle pain. The main symptoms of a tetanus attack include sudden onset, impaired consciousness, frothing at the mouth, limb convulsions, body stiffness, presenting in an opisthotonos posture, and concurrent incontinence of urine and feces, with the duration varying according to the condition. Because convulsions cause the muscles to be in a state of rigidity, this leads to muscle ischemia and hypoxia, thereby increasing lactic acid and causing this state of muscle pain. Therefore, during a tetanus attack, measures should be taken to control these convulsions. At the same time, use chopsticks to prop against the teeth to prevent biting the tongue and other such incidents. If the condition is severe, immediately call emergency services (120) to get to a hospital for urgent treatment.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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How many days after getting a tetanus shot can you drink alcohol?

Tetanus is a serious disease with a prognosis that generally causes specific infection issues. The incubation period is usually around one day, but it can be as long as 50 days or even longer in some patients. However, once there is a possibility of a tetanus infection, it is necessary to inject antiviral medication for tetanus to treat and improve the condition. Generally, this can be effective. After this injection, it is definitely not advisable to consume alcohol. Typically, one should consider drinking alcohol only after at least half a month. At the same time, it is also best to avoid spicy, cold, and stimulating foods to enhance the therapeutic effects of the tetanus injection. This can also aid in better adjustments later on. Therefore, in such cases, it is crucial to abstain completely from alcohol to avoid affecting the effectiveness of the tetanus injection. This is the best approach.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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How long does it take for tetanus to develop?

Tetanus is a specific type of infection caused by the toxin produced by the growth and reproduction of Clostridium tetani, which enters the body through damaged skin and mucous membranes and thrives in an anaerobic environment. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by lockjaw, muscle rigidity, and muscle spasms. After being infected with tetanus, people generally show symptoms within seven to eight days; in quick cases, symptoms can appear within twenty-four hours, while in longer scenarios, the onset can take several months or even years.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Is tetanus shot a vaccine?

Tetanus shots are not vaccines; they are a type of passive immunization. To understand this, we need to know about the pathogenesis of tetanus. Tetanus infection generally refers to an infection by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium that proliferates and grows in wounds and can produce exotoxins, leading to corresponding clinical symptoms in patients. Therefore, tetanus shots include tetanus antitoxin and tetanus immunoglobulin. Their main function is to neutralize the bacterial exotoxins, hence they are considered passive immunization agents and belong to the antibody category, not vaccines.

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Written by Sun Ming
General Surgery
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Why is tetanus given three times?

Tetanus is often derived from horse serum, which is a heterologous protein that many people might be allergic to. This is why a sensitivity test is done before administering tetanus shots; a positive allergy test indicates the presence of this antigen in your body, which can lead to an allergic reaction. To prevent such allergic reactions, desensitization is performed through intramuscular injections, which means administering the tetanus vaccine in three separate doses. This approach helps avoid allergies or even severe anaphylactic shock that might occur from the tetanus shot.

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Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
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Tetanus incubation period

Tetanus is a specific infection caused by Clostridium tetani. The incubation period of tetanus is generally seven to eight days, but it can be as short as 24 hours or as long as several months to years. Patients with shorter incubation periods have a worse prognosis. Tetanus occurs within two weeks after injury in 90% of patients, presenting symptoms such as general weakness, headache, dizziness, chewing difficulty, local muscle tightness, painful pulling, and increased reflexes. Typical symptoms include muscle tonic contraction, opisthotonus, and facial expressions characterized by lockjaw and a sardonic smile.