What should you know about a person with tetanus?

Tetanus is caused by toxins made by Clostridium tetani bacteria, which can enter through a wound. The illness does not spread between people. Early features may include jaw stiffness, difficulty opening the mouth, trouble swallowing and stiffness in the neck or abdomen. Muscle spasms can become severe and may be triggered by light, sound or touch. Tetanus can follow a puncture, burn, crush injury or wound contaminated with soil, even when the skin injury looks small.

Treat suspected tetanus as an emergency and contact medical services immediately. Hospital care may include medicine to neutralise toxin that has not yet attached to nerves, antibiotics, wound cleaning, medicines to control spasms and support for breathing. Do not attempt to manage spasms at home. After any deep, dirty or puncture wound, obtain prompt wound assessment and ask whether a booster or other preventive treatment is needed. Tetanus vaccination is the main way to reduce risk.

Call emergency services for jaw locking, repeated muscle spasms, trouble swallowing, breathing difficulty, fainting or rapidly worsening stiffness. Seek urgent wound care for a deep puncture, animal bite, burn, crush injury or wound containing dirt, particularly when vaccination history is uncertain. Do not wait for symptoms before having a high-risk wound assessed.

Ask whether the wound needs exploration or further cleaning, which tetanus prevention is appropriate, and how to complete future vaccination. If tetanus is suspected, ask how breathing and spasms will be monitored and what recovery support may be needed.