Common symptoms of tetanus

Tetanus develops when bacteria enter damaged skin and produce a toxin that affects the nervous system. The wound may be small or may already look healed. Early symptoms can include jaw tightness, trouble opening the mouth, neck stiffness and difficulty swallowing. Muscle spasms may become painful and affect the abdomen, back or limbs; sounds or touch can trigger them.

Tetanus does not spread from person to person. Symptoms after a contaminated wound require prompt medical assessment because the illness can worsen and affect breathing.

Clean a wound with clean running water and seek medical advice promptly, especially after a deep, puncture, crush or heavily contaminated injury. Tell the clinician when the injury happened, how it occurred and when you last received a tetanus vaccine. Do not wait for jaw stiffness before asking about protection. Information about [Tetanus Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/tetanus-vaccination/) can help you prepare for that discussion.

Get urgent medical help for jaw stiffness, swallowing difficulty, repeated muscle spasms, severe stiffness, breathing difficulty or unusual confusion after an injury. These symptoms need emergency assessment. A wound without symptoms can still need timely preventive care when vaccination history is uncertain or the injury is high risk.

Ask whether the wound needs further cleaning, whether a booster or other preventive treatment is indicated, and which symptoms should prompt emergency care. Bring any vaccine record you have and describe prior tetanus doses as accurately as possible.