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Description

Tetanus is a disease of the nervous system caused by bacteria.

Symptoms

Early symptoms: lockjaw, stiffness in the neck and abdomen, and difficulty swallowing
Later symptoms: severe muscle spasms, generalized tonic seizure-like activity, severe autonomic nervous system disorders

Complications

Death in about 10-20% of cases, higher among older people

Transmission

Enters the body through a break in the skin

Vaccine

Tetanus toxoid (contained in Tdap, DTP, DT, DTaP, and Td vaccines) can prevent this disease.

As an adult, do I need it?

Everyone needs protection from tetanus. If you have not had a booster shot in 10 years or more, you should receive a tetanus shot. If you never had the initial childhood tetanus vaccines, you should receive a series of three tetanus shots.