What should you know about tetanus causes and symptoms?

Tetanus begins when Clostridium tetani spores enter a wound such as a puncture, cut, burn, bite or crush injury. The bacteria can release a toxin in tissue, and that toxin disrupts nerve signals to muscles. A wound may be painful, dirty or barely noticeable; the severity of the wound cannot confirm or exclude tetanus.

Early symptoms can include stiffness in the jaw, difficulty opening the mouth, trouble swallowing and tightening in the neck or abdomen. Painful spasms may spread to other muscles. Fever, sweating and changes in heart rate or blood pressure can also occur.

If you have a wound that may be contaminated, rinse it with clean running water and seek medical advice promptly. Share the time and cause of the injury, the presence of soil or dead tissue, and your tetanus vaccine history. A clinician may clean the wound and offer vaccination or human tetanus immunoglobulin when indicated.

Do not wait for symptoms to decide whether a high-risk wound needs prevention. Tetanus vaccination is a preventive measure, not a treatment for established spasms.

Go to emergency care for jaw locking, difficulty swallowing or breathing, repeated painful spasms, severe stiffness or sudden whole-body tightening. Tetanus can affect breathing muscles, so these symptoms require immediate assessment in a hospital.

Ask whether your wound is high risk, whether your vaccine record is sufficient, whether immunoglobulin is needed, and which changes should lead you straight to emergency care.