Is mild tetanus easy to treat?

Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
Updated on March 16, 2025
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Mild tetanus is easy to treat. Mild tetanus presents with slight twitching, numbness in the limbs, and stiffness, with shallow impairment of consciousness and shorter duration of convulsions. Appropriate sedatives or antiepileptic drugs such as midazolam or phenobarbital sodium can be used to control symptoms. Treatment with penicillin to combat tetanus bacillus also yields good results. Additionally, it is important to rest often, avoid excessive fatigue, drink plenty of water, and consume fresh vegetables and fruits. Avoid spicy and irritating foods. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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Tetanus vaccination is effective if administered within a few days.

A tetanus shot is best administered within 24 hours after injury, and it is still effective if given within 48 hours. If not feasible, the injection can be administered within a week. Tetanus is caused by an infection with tetanus bacillus and is usually very severe. The incubation period for tetanus bacillus is about one week, hence, tetanus antitoxin should be administered as soon as possible after injury to prevent infection. If a tetanus antitoxin skin test is positive, tetanus immunoglobulin can be administered for immunologic skin testing. Symptoms of tetanus, when they appear, mainly include trismus, a forced grin, throat swelling, choking, opisthotonus, etc. If not promptly treated, these symptoms can lead to death.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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What are the symptoms of mild tetanus?

Symptoms of mild tetanus may include the following: Firstly, localized muscle spasms or brief spasms in a single muscle. Additionally, one may experience facial numbness, facial asymmetry, and difficulty swallowing. Generally, these symptoms are mild and do not affect normal life. Therefore, if tetanus occurs, one should first go to the hospital for further relevant examinations and treatment. The general treatment involves administering penicillin for infection control. Additionally, symptomatic treatment includes sedatives to reduce spasms. Attention should also be paid to diet; it is advisable to drink plenty of water and consume fresh vegetables and fruits. One should avoid spicy, stimulating foods, seafood, and yeast-containing foods like beef and mutton to minimize the occurrence of tetanus symptoms.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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How long should you avoid certain foods after getting a tetanus shot?

Tetanus antitoxin medication serves a preventative function and is commonly used as a vaccine. Receiving a tetanus shot is essentially aimed at preventing infections from the tetanus bacterium. Generally, there are dietary restrictions to follow after getting the shot. The effect of this medication typically lasts about a week, during which it is necessary to observe these dietary restrictions. It is usually advisable to avoid spicy or cold foods, such as chili peppers, beef, lamb, dog meat, or seafood. These should be eaten sparingly or avoided altogether. Otherwise, these spicy foods might directly affect the efficacy of the tetanus antitoxin. In such cases, the prevention of tetanus infections could be significantly reduced, thereby increasing the likelihood of contracting tetanus bacterium.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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Symptoms of Tetanus

What are the symptoms of tetanus? Generally, the prodromal symptoms include overall weakness, headache, difficulty swallowing, or limited movement of the head and neck. If the condition progresses further, there may be typical symptoms such as difficulty opening the mouth or tense jaw muscles, leading to muscle spasms in the limbs, possibly causing spasms of the larynx, which can lead to breathing difficulties or even suffocation. Hence, it is a particularly severe manifestation. Some individuals may experience generalized tonic muscle spasms throughout the body, a milder manifestation with a typically longer incubation period. Therefore, in the treatment of tetanus, proactive active immunization should be pursued.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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What department should I go to for tetanus?

Tetanus is a special type of infection that should be treated through routine surgery or emergency surgery. It is caused by the tetanus bacillus, an anaerobic bacterium typically found in feces. Tetanus is easily contracted after an injury, especially in deep wounds. Clinically, tetanus manifests initially with difficulty in opening the mouth, followed by a grimacing smile, convulsions, and respiratory difficulties later on. Preventive measures include going to the hospital immediately after an injury to have the wound cleaned at the department of general surgery or emergency surgery and concurrently receiving a tetanus serum injection.