Published by Bupa's Health Information Team, June 2010.
This factsheet is for people who have tetanus, or who would like information about it.
Tetanus is a bacterial infection. It affects the brain and nervous system, causing spasms and convulsions that can be life threatening.
Tetanus is a condition caused by infection of a type of bacterium called Clostridium tetani, which usually enters your body through a wound. The bacteria produce a toxin that affects your brain and nervous system. This toxin causes your muscles to repeatedly contract and go into spasm.
In the UK, there is a national immunisation programme to protect you against tetanus. Because of this tetanus is rare in the UK - less than 10 people get it each year.
There are several different types of tetanus.
This is the most common type of tetanus and can be life threatening. You may have generalised tetanus for between three and 21 days before you have any symptoms. The symptoms (once they appear) may include:
Spasms can last for three to four weeks.
In localised tetanus, bacteria only affect the muscles near the wound through which they enter your body. This causes your muscles to go hard and you may have painful spasms. Localised tetanus is rare. It can be treated and isn't usually life threatening.
This is another rare form of tetanus. It affects people who have had a head injury or children with an ear infection, and the tetanus bacteria enter your body this way. Cephalic tetanus causes your jaw to lock and leads to paralysis rather than spasms. These symptoms come on quickly and can be life threatening.
This affects newborn babies and can be life threatening. The symptoms are the same as generalised tetanus and occur within a week after birth. You may notice that your baby:
In up to five out of 10 people, tetanus is fatal. The spasms or convulsions may be violent and you can stop breathing or have a heart attack. Other complications of tetanus include:
The bacteria that cause tetanus are found in soil, animal faeces and sometimes in human faeces. The bacteria can cause a tetanus infection if they enter your body through a wound or a cut. You are most likely to develop an infection if you have a wound that was caused by something dirty such as a knife or nail, or an animal bite. Babies can get neonatal tetanus via a healing umbilical wound that hasn't been cleaned properly or that has been cut with an instrument that isn't sterile.
Most people who get tetanus haven't been immunised, or haven't had their tetanus booster.
If you haven't been immunised or you haven't had your booster, you can get tetanus if:
If you think you have tetanus, seek urgent medical attention. A recent wound and muscle stiffness or spasms may be your initial symptoms.
Your doctor may take a swab of cells from your wound and send it to a laboratory for testing.
Your wound will be cleaned thoroughly to help prevent further infection. You will be given medicines, such as immunoglobulin, which will work against the toxins produced by the bacteria that cause tetanus. You may also be given antibiotics to treat the infection and medicines called muscle relaxants, such as diazepam or lorazepam, if you're having muscle spasms.
You will need to stay in hospital and may be linked to a heart monitor or put on a ventilator to give you help with breathing. If you're having trouble swallowing, you may need to be fed through a tube that will be inserted through your nose and into your stomach, or you may be given liquid nutrition through a drip.
In the UK, there is an immunisation programme in place to prevent tetanus. You need five separate injections to be fully protected. In the UK, the first three doses are usually given to babies when they are two, three and four months old. The tetanus vaccine is combined with the diphtheria, pertussis and polio vaccines. Children receive a booster when they are about three, and another one around 10 years later.
If you weren't immunised as a child, you can start the course of injections at any age.
You can be given the vaccine while you're pregnant.
Even if you have had tetanus once, you can get it again and need to be immunised.
If you have a cut or weeping wound, such as a burn, you may need a booster dose of tetanus vaccine as a precaution. You may be given a dose of tetanus immunoglobulin which is a protein (antibody) to help your body fight any tetanus infection you might develop. Ask your doctor for more advice.
For answers to frequently asked questions on this topic, see Common questions.
For sources and links to further information, see Resources.
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This information was published by Bupa's Health Information Team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been reviewed by appropriate medical or clinical professionals. Photos are only for illustrative purposes and do not reflect every presentation of a condition. The content is intended only for general information and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. For more details on how we produce our content and its sources, visit the About our Health Information page.
Publication date: June 2010
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