Tetanus
What is tetanus?
Tetanus is a serious infection caused by the toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani (C. tetani). This toxin attacks the nervous system and can lead to severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms throughout the body, as well as life-threatening complications affecting the heart.
Commonly known as “lockjaw,” tetanus gets its nickname from one of its most recognizable symptoms: spasms that clamp the jaw shut, making it difficult or impossible to open the mouth or swallow. Unlike many infectious diseases, tetanus does not spread from person to person. Instead, C. tetani spores are found in soil, dust, and animal feces, and typically enter the body through a cut, wound, or skin puncture.
Tetanus is a medical emergency; up to 20% of reported cases end in death, even with modern medical care.
On this page, you can explore how tetanus spreads, what the symptoms are, and how to prevent tetanus.
Up to 20% of reported tetanus cases end in death.
How does tetanus spread?
Unlike other vaccine-preventable diseases, which are transferred from person to person, tetanus bacteria are found in places such as soil/dirt, dust, and manure. That means that the disease will never be eradicated. The bacteria enter the body through a cut, wound, or skin puncture. A person can also be infected after a burn or animal bite.
Anyone who is unvaccinated or not up to date on their tetanus vaccinations is at risk for tetanus. Because C. tetani spores are found widely in the environment, in soil, dust, and animal feces, exposure is possible almost anywhere, making vaccination the most important protection against the disease.
Tetanus most commonly develops after a skin wound becomes contaminated with the bacteria through a cut, wound, skin puncture, burn, or animal bite. People who work outdoors or with animals, such as farmers, gardeners, and construction workers, may have more frequent exposure to contaminated soil and are therefore at greater risk. People who use injectable drugs are also at increased risk.
Newborns can be particularly vulnerable in settings where access to medical care and vaccination is limited. While rare in the United States, tetanus in infants remains a serious concern in parts of the world where maternal vaccination coverage is low.
Older adults are another group at elevated risk. Immunity from tetanus vaccination can fade over time, and older adults may be less likely to have received booster doses or to be up to date on their vaccinations. Additionally, older adults tend to experience more injuries and medical procedures that could introduce bacteria into the body.
What are the symptoms of tetanus?
Common signs and symptoms of tetanus are:
- Jaw cramping/lockjaw
- Stiffness of neck
- Difficulty swallowing
- Rigidity of abdominal/back muscles
- Painful muscle spasms
- Fever and sweating
- High blood pressure
- Seizures
Tetanus can cause severe muscle stiffness and painful spasms throughout the body, and can be fatal in up to 1 in 5 reported cases.
How can you prevent tetanus?
Vaccination is the best way to protect people of all ages from tetanus. The tetanus vaccine is combined with vaccines that protect against diphtheria and pertussis. For babies and young children, this vaccine is called DTaP. For preteens, teens, adults, and pregnant women, the vaccine is Tdap. Td is another option for non-pregnant adults to protect against tetanus, although Tdap is preferred.
Because immunity from the tetanus vaccine can fade over time, booster doses are an important part of staying protected. A Td or Tdap booster (Tdap preferred) is recommended every 10 years for adults. In some cases, such as after a cut, wound, skin puncture, burn, or animal bite, a booster may be recommended sooner if it has been more than 5 years since the last tetanus-containing vaccine.
Babies and Children
For the best protection, children need to receive all five recommended doses of the DTaP vaccine. DTaP protects against three diseases— diphtheria , tetanus, and pertussis (also known as whooping cough). Your child needs doses at:
- 2 months
- 4 months
- 6 months
- Between 15 and 18 months
- Between 4 and 6 years
Babies and children under 6 years old who should not get whooping cough vaccines (for specific medical reasons) can for protection against tetanus and diphtheria.
Preteens and Teens
The Tdap vaccine is the booster shot that helps protect preteens and teens from the same three diseases that the DTaP vaccine protects young children from.
All preteens are recommended to receive one dose of Tdap when they are 11 or 12 years old. Teens who did not get the Tdap vaccine at that age should get it as soon as possible. Tdap is especially important for anyone who is in close contact with a baby younger than 12 months of age.
Adults
Vaccine protection for whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, and diphtheria fades with time.
Therefore, the CDC recommends a single dose of Tdap vaccine for all adults 19 years of age and older who have not previously received a Tdap vaccine.
The CDC also recommends adults receive a tetanus and diphtheria booster (called Td) every 10 years, if they haven’t had a Tdap booster. The easiest thing for adults to do is to get Tdap one time instead of their next regular Td booster. You can get the dose of Tdap earlier than the 10-year mark, so talk to your healthcare provider during your next appointment.
Being up-to-date with one dose of Tdap is especially important for adults who are around babies , because infants are at highest risk for severe complications from whooping cough and are not fully protected until they complete their vaccine series.
Pregnancy
Women should get a dose of Tdap during every pregnancy, between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy (closer to 27 weeks is preferable), to protect themselves and their newborns against whooping cough. Infants are most at risk for severe, life-threatening complications from whooping cough. Learn more in the pregnancy section.
Immunization Schedules
To ensure that your family is up to date on their vaccines, view or download the childhood and adult immunization schedules and talk to your healthcare provider.
