What is tetanus?

Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria. The bacteria make a toxin, or poison, that causes severe muscle spasms. Tetanus can be deadly, but you can get the tetanus vaccines to prevent it.

Tetanus is also called "lockjaw." It gets that name because muscle spasms in your jaw make it hard to open your mouth.

The bacteria that cause tetanus may enter your body through a wound, cut, splinter, or burn. Deep wounds, such as a puncture wound caused by a dirty nail, are a common way for tetanus bacteria to enter your body.

What causes it?

The bacteria that cause tetanus are called Clostridium tetani. They are usually found in dirt and soil, most often in areas with animal waste such as farms and ranches. These bacteria typically enter the body through a wound, cut, splinter, or burn.

The bacteria grow best where there is little oxygen. The deeper and narrower the wound, the less oxygen there is around it, so tetanus is more likely. For example, the bacteria can grow in a puncture wound caused by a dirty nail. The dirtier the wound, the higher the risk of getting tetanus. But tetanus can also grow in a clean wound.

Tetanus is not contagious, so you can't get it from a person who has it.

What are the symptoms?

Tetanus symptoms appear slowly and get worse over time. The time it takes for symptoms to appear after the bacteria gets into a wound, cut, splinter, or burn ranges from days to months. In most cases, symptoms of tetanus appear within 14 days.

Tetanus symptoms often begin with a headache and trouble opening your mouth (lockjaw). You also may have trouble swallowing and a stiff neck, back, or shoulders.

As the toxin spreads, it can be deadly. It can cause problems with your blood pressure and heart rate. It can cause severe and painful muscle spasms in your neck, arms, legs, and belly.

How is it diagnosed?

There is no lab test for tetanus. A doctor can usually diagnose tetanus after asking questions about your symptoms and doing a physical exam to check for wounds. Because other problems can cause muscle spasms like tetanus does, your doctor will do tests to make sure that your symptoms aren't caused by something else.

How is tetanus treated?

You'll need to stay in a hospital so you can get medicines and fluids to control muscle spasms and pain. Any wound will be fully cleaned. Cleaning the affected area stops bacteria from making toxin. Treatment also includes:

• Antibiotics. These medicines kill bacteria.
• A tetanus vaccine.
• Tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG). This is a protein that helps your body's immune system find and kill bacteria. TIG boosts your immunity while your body fights the infection.
• Medicines to decrease muscle spasms.

If you need to be in the intensive care unit (ICU), you may get treatment to help with breathing and other body functions.

After you get better, you'll need routine tetanus shots to prevent another infection.

How can you prevent it?

You can prevent tetanus by getting all your recommended vaccinations. There are three different vaccines that protect you from tetanus.

• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis). It's given in a series of 5 shots starting at age 2 months and ending at ages 4 to 6 years.
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis). Tdap is the first booster shot for tetanus. It's given at age 11 or 12. It's also given to teens and adults who never had the Tdap shot. People who are pregnant can get a Tdap shot during each pregnancy.
• Td (tetanus and diphtheria). Td is given as a booster shot every 10 years.

If you never had tetanus shots as a child, or if you're not sure if you had them, you can get 3 tetanus shots in about a 1-year span. Your doctor will tell you which shots you need. After that, 1 booster shot every 10 years will protect you.

You'll need a tetanus booster right away if you have a dirty cut, wound, or burn and if 5 or more years have passed since your last tetanus shot (or if you aren't sure when your last shot was). The doctor will clean the wound and may give you antibiotics.