What should you know about pediatric tetanus?

Tetanus bacteria can enter through punctures, contaminated cuts, burns, bites, or wounds containing dead tissue. The toxin affects nerves and can cause painful muscle stiffness and spasms, often beginning around the jaw and neck before spreading. Tetanus does not usually spread from one person to another.

Vaccination trains the immune system to recognise the toxin, but protection needs to stay up to date. A wound can need medical attention even when it looks small, especially if it is deep, dirty, caused by a puncture, or difficult to clean. Review [Tetanus Vaccination](/treatments/preventive-care-and-vaccination/tetanus-vaccination/) with the child’s clinician.

Wash your hands, rinse the wound with clean running water, and remove visible dirt only if it comes away easily. Cover it with a clean dressing and check the child’s vaccination record. Contact a healthcare professional promptly for a deep or dirty wound, a puncture, an animal bite, a burn, tissue damage, or uncertain vaccination history. A clinician may clean the wound further and decide whether a vaccine dose or other preventive treatment is needed.

Do not seal a contaminated wound tightly at home or delay care while waiting for symptoms. Tetanus symptoms can appear after the injury, so prevention is considered before illness develops.

Seek emergency help for jaw stiffness, difficulty swallowing, painful muscle spasms, severe stiffness, breathing difficulty, or repeated tightening of the muscles. Keep the child in a quiet, safe environment while waiting for help. Any significant wound with an unknown or incomplete vaccination history deserves prompt clinical advice, even if the child feels well.

Ask whether the wound needs professional cleaning, whether the child’s vaccination record shows current protection, which symptoms to watch for, and whether follow-up is needed. If records are missing, ask how the team will assess protection and plan catch-up vaccination.