Tetanus is a serious illness caused by tetanus bacteria. The bacteria live in soil, saliva, dust and manure. The bacteria usually enter the body through a deep cut, like those you might get from cutting yourself with a knife or stepping on a nail.
The infection causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body. It can lead to "locking" of the jaw, which makes it impossible to open your mouth or swallow. If this happens, you could die of suffocation.
If you get tetanus, there is usually a long course of treatment. The tetanus vaccine can prevent tetanus but its protection does not last forever. Adults should get a tetanus shot, or booster, every 10 years. If you get a bad cut or burn, see your doctor--you may need a booster.
- Facts about Tetanus for Adults(National Foundation for Infectious Diseases) - Links to PDF - http://www.nfid.org/pdf/factsheets/tetanusadult.pdf
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Tetanus(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/tetanus.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/infecciones/tetanus_esp.html
- Tetanus(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/tetanus/DS00227/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Tetanus: Questions and Answers(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF - http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4220.pdf
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Diphtheria Tetanus & Pertussis Vaccine: What You Need to Know(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - Links to PDF - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-dtap.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.immunize.org/vis/spdtap01.pdf
- Do I Need a Tetanus Shot?(American College of Emergency Physicians) - http://www3.acep.org/patients.aspx?id=26078
- Tetanus Vaccine: Questions & Answers(Immunization Action Coalition) - http://www.vaccineinformation.org/tetanus/qandavax.asp
- Tetanus: Health Information for International Travel(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh4-Tetanus.aspx
- Tetanus (Lockjaw) Photos(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/tetanus/photos.htm
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Trismus(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Trismus%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Tetanus(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Tetanus%22
- Article: Administration of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine to parents... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18762489&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: These are the times that try men's soles. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18754261&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Validation of neonatal tetanus elimination in Bangladesh by lot quality-assurance... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18720575&tool=MedlinePlus
- Tetanus -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(tetanus[majr]+OR+tetanus+toxoid[majr])+AND+English[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/
- Tetanus(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bam.gov/sub_diseases/5710_tetanus.html
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Tetanus(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/infections/bacterial_viral/tetanus.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/teen/en_espanol/infecciones/tetanus_esp.html
- Childhood Immunization - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/childhoodimmunization.html
- Immunization - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunization.html
- Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infections.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Tetanus is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
Tetanus - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/tetanus.html