Tetanus

When to seek medical advice

You should contact your GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit if you're concerned about a wound, particularly if:

the wound is deep
the wound contains dirt or a foreign object
you haven't been fully vaccinated against tetanus
you're not sure whether you've been fully vaccinated against tetanus

Your GP can assess the wound and decide if you need any treatment or need to go to hospital.

You should immediately go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department or call 999 for an ambulance if you develop severe muscle stiffness or spasms.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for tetanus

Introduction

Tetanus is a serious but rare condition caused by bacteria getting into a wound. Read about the symptoms, how it's treated, and the tetanus vaccination.

How you get tetanus

Tetanus is caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. These bacteria can survive for a long time outside the body, and are commonly found in soil and the manure of animals such as horses and cows.

Signs and symptoms of tetanus

The symptoms of tetanus usually develop within4 to 21 days after infection. On average, they start after around 10 days. The main symptoms include: stiffness in your jaw muscles (lockjaw) this can

When to seek medical advice

You should contact your GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit if you're concerned about a wound, particularly if: the wound is deep the wound contains dirt or a foreign object you haven't

How tetanus is treated

If your doctor thinks youcould develop tetanus but you haven't had any symptoms yet, they will clean any wounds you have and give you an injection of tetanus immunoglobulin . They may also give you a

Tetanus vaccination

A tetanus vaccination is given as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme . The full course of the vaccination requires five injections, usuallygiven on the following schedule: the first th

Tetanus vaccination for travel

Tetanus is found throughout the world, so you should ideally make sure you're fully vaccinated before travelling abroad. Contact your GP surgery for advice if you're planning on travelling abroad and

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