Cat scratch and tetanus symptoms: what to know

Tetanus is caused by a toxin made by bacteria that can enter damaged skin. Symptoms may include jaw stiffness, difficulty swallowing, painful muscle tightening, abdominal stiffness, and spasms triggered by sound or touch. They do not usually appear immediately after the scratch, and an early wound may look minor. A scratch itself does not diagnose tetanus; risk assessment depends on the wound and vaccination history. A healthcare professional can decide whether a booster or other preventive care is needed.

Wash the scratch with soap and running water, remove visible dirt gently, and cover it with a clean dressing. Find your vaccination record if possible and tell the clinician when the last tetanus-containing vaccine was given. Seek advice promptly if the wound is deep, contaminated, crushed, or difficult to clean. Do not rely on the absence of early symptoms to decide that prevention is unnecessary. Keep watching for increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, or pain, which can indicate a local infection rather than tetanus.

Obtain urgent medical advice for a wound with uncertain vaccine protection, especially if it is deep or contaminated. Go to emergency care for jaw stiffness, trouble swallowing or breathing, widespread painful spasms, severe rigidity, or confusion. Also seek prompt wound care if redness spreads, pus develops, or fever follows the scratch.

Does this wound need a tetanus booster or additional prevention? How should I care for it while it heals? Which muscle symptoms would require emergency help?