Tetanus
Tetanus is a serious but rare condition caused by bacteria getting into a wound. An effective tetanus vaccine is given as part of the childhood vaccination programme in Northern Ireland. Most people who get tetanus weren't vaccinated against it or didn't complete the entire vaccination schedule.
How you get tetanus
Tetanus bacteria can survive for a long time outside the body. The bacteria are commonly found in soil and the manure of animals such as horses and cows.
If the bacteria enter the body through a wound, they can quickly multiply and release a toxin. This affects the nerves, causing symptoms such as muscle stiffness and spasms.
The bacteria can get into your body through:
- cuts and scrapes
- tears or splits in the skin
- burns
- animal bites
- body piercings, tattoos and injections
- eye injuries
- injecting contaminated drugs
Tetanus can't be spread from person to person.
Symptoms of tetanus
The symptoms of tetanus usually develop 4 to 21 days after infection. On average, they start after around 10 days.
The main symptoms include:
- stiffness in your jaw muscles (lockjaw), which can make opening your mouth difficult
- painful muscle spasms, which can make breathing and swallowing difficult
- a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
- sweating
- a rapid heartbeat
Left untreated, the symptoms can get worse over the following hours and days.
When to get medical advice
Contact your GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit if you're concerned about a wound, particularly if:
- it's a deep wound
- there's dirt or something inside the wound
- you haven't been fully vaccinated, or you're not sure if you have
Your GP will assess the wound, and decide whether you need treatment and whether you need to go to hospital.
Go immediately to your nearest emergency department or call 999 for an ambulance if you develop severe muscle stiffness or spasms.
How tetanus is treated
If your doctor thinks you could develop tetanus but you haven't had any symptoms yet, they'll clean your wounds and give you an injection of tetanus immunoglobulin.
They may also give you a dose of the tetanus vaccine if you haven't been fully vaccinated in the past.
Tetanus immunoglobulin is a medication containing antibodies that kill the tetanus bacteria. It provides immediate, but short-term, protection from tetanus.
If you develop symptoms of tetanus, you'll usually need to be admitted to a hospital intensive care unit (ICU), where you may be given a number of different treatments.
These could include tetanus immunoglobulin, antibiotics, and medication to relieve muscle stiffness and spasms.
Most people who develop symptoms of tetanus eventually recover, although it can take several weeks or months.
Tetanus vaccination
A tetanus vaccination is given as part of the childhood immunisation programme in Northern Ireland. The full course of the vaccination requires five injections.
This course of five injections should provide long-lasting protection against tetanus. However, if you or your child has a deep or dirty wound, it's best to get medical advice.
If you're not sure whether you've had the full vaccination course, contact your GP surgery for advice.
It's possible to fully vaccinate older children and adults who weren't vaccinated when they were younger.
Tetanus travel jab
Tetanus is found throughout the world, so you should ideally make sure you're fully vaccinated before travelling abroad.
Contact your GP surgery for advice about a tetanus travel jab if you're planning on travelling abroad.
This is important if you haven't been fully vaccinated against tetanus, or you're going to an area with limited medical facilities and your last vaccine dose was more than 10 years ago.
More useful links
The information on this page has been adapted from original content from the NHS website.
For further information see terms and conditions.