Tetanus how many days

Usually, the neck and back arch, the legs become rigid, the arms are drawn up to the body, and the fists are clenched.

Muscle rigidity in the neck and abdomen may cause breathing difficulties. These severe spasms may be triggered by minor events that stimulate the senses — a loud sound, a physical touch, a draft or light. This uncommon form of tetanus results in muscles spasms near the site of a wound. While it's usually a less severe form of disease, it can progress to generalized tetanus. This rare form of tetanus results from a head wound.

It results in weakened muscles in the face and spasms of the jaw muscles. It also can progress to generalized tetanus. Tetanus is a life-threatening disease. If you have signs or symptoms of tetanus, seek emergency care.

If you have a simple, clean wound — and you've had a tetanus shot within 10 years — you can care for your wound at home. The bacterium that causes tetanus is called Clostridium tetani.

The bacterium can survive in a dormant state in soil and animal feces. It's essentially shut down until it discovers a place to thrive. When the dormant bacteria enter a wound — a condition good for growth — the cells are "awakened. The toxin impairs the nerves in the body that control muscles.

The greatest risk factor for tetanus infection is not being vaccinated or not keeping up with the year booster shots. The tetanus vaccine is given to children as part of the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine DTaP. Tetanus is sometimes called lockjaw because of the stiffness it can cause in the neck and jaw. The most common scenario for catching tetanus is stepping on a dirty nail or sharp shard of glass or wood that pierces through the skin.

The time between exposure to tetanus and the appearance of symptoms ranges between a few days to a few months. Most people with tetanus will experience symptoms within 14 days of exposure. Tetanus can be fatal.

The Immunization Action Coalition states that about 10 percent of reported cases have led to death. You can manage symptoms by using sedatives to control muscle spasms. Most treatment consists of trying to reduce exposure to the toxins produced by the bacteria. To do that, your doctor may advise:. Tetanus is a potentially deadly disease, but it can be prevented by staying up-to-date on your vaccine schedule and getting boosters every 10 years.

If you suspect you may have been exposed to tetanus, see your doctor. In some cases, they may recommend a booster following the injury. Tetanus, also called Lockjaw, is a serious bacterial infection that affects the nervous system and causes muscles throughout the body to tighten. Most tetanus shot reactions are signs that your body is responding to build immunity against tetanus. Tetanus, or lockjaw, is a disease caused by a….

It's not yet approved for use in the United States. If you've never had the tetanus vaccine before, you may be advised to have as many doses as possible before you travel. There should be a 1-month gap between each dose. If there's not enough time to have all the doses you need, you can complete the course when you return. Page last reviewed: 14 May Next review due: 14 May Tetanus is a serious but rare condition caused by bacteria getting into a wound.

How you get tetanus Tetanus 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. The bacteria can get into your body through: cuts and grazes tears or splits in the skin burns animal bites body piercings, tattoos and injections eye injuries injecting contaminated drugs Tetanus cannot be spread from person to person.

Symptoms of tetanus The symptoms of tetanus usually start around 4 to 21 days after infection. The main symptoms of tetanus include: stiffness in your jaw muscles lockjaw , which can make it difficult to open your mouth painful muscle spasms, which can make it difficult to breathe and swallow a high temperature sweating a rapid heartbeat If it's not treated, the symptoms can get worse over the following hours and days.

When to get medical advice Contact a GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit if you're concerned about a wound, particularly if: it's a deep wound there's dirt or something inside the wound you have not been fully vaccinated for tetanus, or you're not sure if you have A doctor will assess the wound and decide whether you need treatment and whether you need to go to hospital.

These bacteria are in the environment and get into the body through breaks in the skin. The spores can get into the body through broken skin, usually through injuries from contaminated objects.

Tetanus bacteria are more likely to infect certain breaks in the skin. These include:. The incubation period — time from exposure to illness — is usually between 3 and 21 days average 10 days. However, it may range from one day to several months, depending on the kind of wound.