Anatom3DTetanus
Tetanus
What it is
A soil bacterium's toxin locks muscles into spasm.
Symptoms & signs
- Jaw stiffness (lockjaw)
- neck rigidity
- painful whole-body spasms
- difficulty swallowing
- triggered by noise or touch
🚩 Get help if…
- call 112 / 911 now Stiff jaw, trouble opening the mouth or swallowing
- call 112 / 911 now Painful muscle spasms, back arching, or trouble breathing
- see a doctor soon Dirty or deep wound and not vaccinated in 10 years
- see a doctor soon Animal bite or puncture wound without a tetanus booster
Where it strikes
- Muscles
- Nervous system
- Spinal cord
Medical treatment
- Tetanus immunoglobulin
- metronidazole
- wound debridement
- muscle relaxants and ICU ventilation
- vaccination and boosters
Natural & lifestyle
- Keep boosters current (10-yearly)
- clean wounds thoroughly
- seek cover after dirty injuries
Emerging & experimental
- Improved global vaccine coverage programmes
Alternative, off-label & anecdotal
Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.
- Magnesium sulfate to control spasms — trials show fewer sedative drugs needed mixed evidence
- Home wound care without a booster — the toxin needs vaccination, not ointment anecdotal / traditional
ICD codes
- ICD-10 A35
- ICD-11 1C13 Tetanus