How do I know I have it? (Symptoms and Diagnosis)

If your child has an open skin wound, check to see that his immunizations are up-to-date. If his wound is deep, contact your doctor to see if additional immunization is needed. Keep an eye on the wound and call your doctor immediately if it gets red or swollen or if your child runs a fever.

Signs of tetanus include muscular stiffness in the jaw (hence the term lockjaw), neck, and abdominal muscles. Other symptoms include convulsions, rapid heartbeat, low-grade fever, and – in infants – difficulty with sucking.

How can I treat it? (Emergency Treatment)

Clean the wound thoroughly with soap and water. The doctor will probably give you another tetanus booster if you haven’t had one in the last ten years. If the wound is more severe, and if it’s been more than five years since you or your child’s last tetanus shot, it’s likely that the doctor will also recommend a booster shot.

How dangerous is it? (Outlook)

Because children are routinely vaccinated against tetanus, incidence of the disease in this country is rare. Nonetheless, untreated tetanus is fatal in up to half of all cases.

How can I prevent it? (Prevention)

The vaccination that immunizes you against tetanus is called the DTaP vaccine. It also immunizes against diphtheria and pertussis — also known as whooping cough.

Children should get the DTaP vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, between 12 and 16 months, and then again between 4 and 6 years old. At 11 or 12 years old, children get a booster shot; after that, you only need a booster shot once every ten years.

Always call your healthcare provider if you step on a nail or if you get a deep wound when working or playing outside.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: What’s the incubation period for tetanus?

A: Symptoms can take anywhere from three days to three weeks to appear. The average amount of time for the onset of tetanus is 8 to 10 days. Generally, the more heavily contaminated the wound, the shorter the incubation period.

Q: If I’ve had tetanus once does that mean I’m immune to it in the future?

A: No. And even immunizations don’t work forever. Although children are generally highly immune to tetanus because they get frequent vaccinations, older children and adults don’t have the same high levels of antibodies to the disease since they often don’t keep up with their booster shots.

Q: Can the DTaP vaccine cause tetanus?

A: No. The vaccination that children used to get to prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pettussis was called the DTP vaccine. While some children had reactions to this vaccine, ranging from high fever to severe breathing difficulties, these reactions were very rare. And the DTaP vaccine is considered even safer than the DTP vaccine, so chances are slim that your child will experience any problems at all. Most reactions – such as a fever – don’t last for more than three days.

Where can I find more information? (Resources)

The best place to learn more about tetanus is through the Center for Disease Control. Visit their web site at: http://www.cdc.gov.

Sources