Tetanus – Symptoms and Causes

What Is Tetanus?

Tetanus is a dangerous nervous system disease caused by bacteria that make toxins in the body. It makes muscles tighten up, especially in the jaw and neck. This is why people often call tetanus “lockjaw.”

There is no cure for tetanus. Doctors can only treat the symptoms and problems that come with it until the toxin wears off. In serious cases, tetanus can be deadly.

Due to widespread vaccination, few people get tetanus in the United States and other developed countries. However, people who haven’t had their shots are still at risk. The disease is more common in countries with less healthcare.

Key facts about tetanus:

• Caused by bacterial toxins
• Leads to painful muscle contractions
• No available cure
• Preventable through vaccination
• Rare in developed nations

Signs and Warning Signals

Limited Area Muscle Stiffness

Limited area muscle stiffness happens near the spot where tetanus bacteria entered the body. This less common form causes muscle spasms mostly around the wound site.

Though it may seem less serious at first, it can still develop into a more widespread infection affecting the whole body. The symptoms remain focused in one area instead of spreading throughout the body right away.

Face and Head Symptoms

This rare type occurs when tetanus enters through a wound on the head. People with this form experience weakness in their facial muscles and jaw spasms. The muscles that control facial expressions may not work properly.

Like other forms, it can eventually spread and affect muscles throughout the body if left untreated. This type specifically targets nerves in the face and head area.

When to Get Medical Help

Seek emergency care immediately if you notice any signs of tetanus. This condition can be life-threatening and requires prompt medical attention.

For simple, clean wounds, home care is usually sufficient if you’ve had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years. However, medical care is necessary in several situations:

• Your last tetanus shot was more than 10 years ago
• You don’t remember when you had your last tetanus shot
• You have a deep cut, puncture wound, or animal bite
• A foreign object is in your wound
• Your wound has been contaminated with dirt, soil, feces, rust, or saliva

Important: For contaminated wounds, you need a booster shot if it’s been 5 or more years since your last tetanus vaccination.

Tetanus typically shows signs about 10 days after infection, though this period can range from 3 to 21 days. The most common form starts gradually with symptoms worsening over two weeks.

Symptoms usually begin in the jaw and move downward through the body.

Common symptoms include:

• Painful jaw muscle spasms and stiffness
• Tight muscles around the lips (sometimes causing a fixed smile)
• Stiff, painful neck muscles
• Swallowing problems
• Rigid stomach muscles

As tetanus progresses, painful seizure-like spasms lasting several minutes may occur. During these episodes:

• The neck and back arch backward
• Legs become stiff
• Arms pull inward
• Fists clench tightly

Even minor stimuli like touch, sounds, or light can trigger these severe spasms.

Causes

Tetanus happens when Clostridium tetani bacteria enter the body. These bacteria live in soil and animal waste in a sleeping state. They wait until they find the right spot to grow.

When these bacteria get into a wound, they “wake up” and start to multiply. As they grow, they make a poison called tetanospasmin. This poison affects the nerves that control your muscles.

The poison travels through your bloodstream to your nervous system. It blocks signals from your nerves to your muscles, causing stiffness and painful spasms.

Risk Factors

The main risk factor for tetanus is not having the vaccine or missing your 10-year booster shots. Your chance of getting tetanus also goes up with:

• Wounds that touch soil or manure
• Objects stuck in a wound (like nails or splinters)
• Medical conditions that weaken your immune system
• Infected skin sores in people with diabetes
• Babies with infected umbilical cords whose mothers aren’t fully vaccinated
• Using dirty or shared needles for drugs

Possible Problems

Tetanus can lead to several serious health issues. Breathing difficulties may happen when neck and stomach muscles tighten or when the vocal cords contract, especially during a full-body spasm.

Blood clots can travel through the body and block lung arteries, causing a dangerous condition called pulmonary embolism. During intense spasms, patients might accidentally breathe food or liquid into their lungs, leading to aspiration pneumonia.

The powerful muscle contractions from tetanus can be strong enough to break bones, particularly in the spine. These fractures add more complications to recovery.

Most serious outcomes include:

• Blocked airways during spasms
• Nerve damage affecting breathing
• Disruption of heart rhythm
• Failure of vital organs

Without proper medical care, tetanus can be fatal when it interferes with basic bodily functions like breathing or heart activity.

Preventing Tetanus

Childhood Vaccines

Tetanus prevention begins in early childhood through vaccines. Children typically receive the DTaP vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. This important vaccine is given as a series of five shots at specific ages.

Children should get their DTaP shots at:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 15–18 months
• 4-6 years

For children who cannot tolerate the pertussis part of the vaccine, doctors may recommend the DT vaccine instead.

Teen Vaccination

Children need a booster shot when they reach 11 or 12 years old. This booster is called Tdap. It helps maintain protection against tetanus during the teen years.

If your teen missed this important booster, speak with your doctor about catching up on this vaccine.

Adult Protection

Adults need tetanus boosters every 10 years to stay protected. Your doctor may recommend either the Tdap or Td vaccine as your booster.

If you were not vaccinated as a child or are unsure about your vaccination history, talk to your healthcare provider about getting the Tdap vaccine.

Vaccines During Pregnancy

Pregnant women should receive a tetanus booster during the third trimester of pregnancy. This recommendation applies regardless of when the mother last received a tetanus shot.

This vaccination helps protect both the mother and newborn baby.

Additional Protection Tips

• Have regular check-ups. During these check-ups, your doctor should review your vaccination status.
• Check your tetanus protection before traveling internationally.
• If it has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot, get immediate medical care for deep or dirty wounds.

Always keep track of your vaccination dates to ensure you stay protected against tetanus.