What should I do if I am allergic to tetanus shots?

Written by Wang Xiang Li
Emergency Medicine
Updated on November 09, 2024
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The full name of the tetanus shot is tetanus antitoxin serum, which is mainly made from horse serum and has certain allergenic properties. If a patient is allergic to tetanus antitoxin serum, desensitization injections can be used, which involves gradually injecting one milliliter of the tetanus antitoxin serum into the body in four or more sessions, with each injection spaced about twenty to thirty minutes apart. After each injection, it is important to closely observe the patient's reaction, including checking for signs of itching in the nose, hives throughout the body, or difficulty breathing. If any of these symptoms occur, emergency treatment should be administered. If the injections of tetanus antitoxin serum cannot be completed multiple times, or if the patient is unwilling to accept this method of injection, tetanus immunoglobulin can be administered instead of tetanus antitoxin serum. Tetanus immunoglobulin does not require a sensitivity test and can be directly injected into the body without causing an allergic reaction, although it is more expensive.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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The scientific name of a tetanus shot is called "tetanus toxoid vaccine."

Tetanus is a relatively common disease in daily life, and its prevention and treatment are very important because, in severe cases, it can even endanger a person's life safety. Commonly in clinical practice, tetanus injections are referred to as tetanus antitoxin. In such situations, the use of this prophylactic injection still plays a role, depending on the specific health condition and circumstances of the patient. If the wound is not superficial, it is generally after debridement that a tetanus shot can be administered based on the specific situation. Furthermore, tetanus shots usually need to be confirmed through methods like skin tests because some patients may have allergic reactions, which could significantly impact their health and pose a great risk.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Where is the tetanus shot given?

Tetanus injections require administration into the muscle, typically in the deltoid or gluteus maximus, which is below the patient's shoulder or on the buttocks. Before administering a tetanus shot, a skin test is usually performed. The test takes place on the inner side of the forearm, where 0.1ml of the solution is injected. Patients might experience some pain during the tetanus shot, but most can tolerate it. The tetanus shot effectively prevents tetanus infections, especially in cases where the wound is deep with a small surface area that can create anaerobic conditions conducive to the colonization and proliferation of Clostridium tetani, leading to tetanus infection. Vaccination can effectively prevent some serious diseases.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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How deep is a tetanus wound?

There is no clear boundary concerning how deep a wound needs to be to carry a risk of tetanus; mainly, it depends on whether the conditions allow for anaerobic bacteria to thrive. Particularly, wounds that are very small on the surface but deep can lead to substantial proliferation of tetanus bacilli. A common example is a foot wound caused by stepping on a nail, where the exterior opening of the wound is small, but it is deep inside, and the nail surface may be rusty and also carry a large amount of tetanus bacilli. If the wound is not promptly and thoroughly cleaned, it can lead to massive growth of tetanus bacilli, resulting in the onset of severe illness in the patient.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Is tetanus serious?

In usual circumstances, when we diagnose tetanus, it is crucial to use a large amount of tetanus antitoxin and tetanus immunoglobulin early on to neutralize the toxins in the blood and alleviate the symptoms of tetanus. If tetanus severely manifests with symptoms such as muscle spasms, muscle rigidity, difficulty in opening the mouth, stiff neck, or complications like respiratory difficulty, respiratory failure, or even cessation of breathing and heartbeat, the condition can lead to severe complications and high mortality rates. Thus, tetanus becomes very severe in its late stages.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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How to get a tetanus shot if you are not allergic

Tetanus allergy refers to the body not being allergic to tetanus antitoxin, which can be directly diluted with saline and then administered intramuscularly into the buttocks or upper arm. Alternatively, tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test, can also be administered intramuscularly. The purpose of the tetanus shot is to prevent infection by the tetanus bacillus, an anaerobic bacterium. In deep wounds in an anaerobic environment, or in heavily contaminated wounds with dirt or rust, there is a high risk of colonization by tetanus bacilli in the human body, requiring tetanus vaccination treatment.