Does tetanus cause fever?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on September 21, 2024
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When a person is infected with tetanus, the early symptoms mainly include dizziness, headache, fatigue, decreased appetite, weak chewing, sore jaw muscles, some muscle tension, or some hyperactive reflexes. As the condition worsens, typical clinical manifestations occur, such as difficulty opening the mouth, a sardonic smile, opisthotonos or neck stiffness, muscle spasms, muscle rigidity, and in severe cases, respiratory weakness or respiratory arrest. Some patients may develop a fever after being infected with tetanus. Therefore, some tetanus patients do show symptoms of fever.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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How long do you have to get a tetanus shot?

It is generally recommended to receive an injection as soon as possible after a trauma, ideally within 24 hours, because tetanus has a certain incubation period, with the shortest being able to cause disease within 24 hours. There is still value in receiving the injection after 24 hours; it can alleviate symptoms and play a preventive treatment role. For tetanus, it is usual to administer a tetanus shot, and most people can choose between tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin. The duration of these two drugs is not the same; tetanus antitoxin lasts about three days, while tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks. However, this is not an absolute conclusion. Beyond this time, if there are high-risk factors for reinfection, a repeat injection is needed. If a patient has previously been protected by an active immunization regimen, in most cases, no special preventive treatment is needed within three years of the last vaccination.

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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What should I do if I drink alcohol with tetanus?

If there are high risk factors for tetanus infection after an injury, and alcohol has been consumed, it is generally advisable to wait until sobriety before conducting relevant skin tests. Currently, there is no clear research on the relationship between alcohol consumption and an allergy to tetanus antitoxin. It is not very clear whether alcohol impacts the results of a skin test, so it is safer to perform the test after sobering up. Since the consequences of a tetanus infection can be severe, and the tetanus injection itself carries a certain risk of anaphylactic shock, which can lead to multiple organ problems and even be life-threatening, it is generally safer to conduct the skin test after sobering up and then proceed with the timely injection treatment. If the skin test is positive, tetanus immunoglobulin should be chosen promptly.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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How to rescue from tetanus allergy

In clinical settings, when administering tetanus injections, it is very easy for allergic reactions to occur, even severe complications like anaphylactic shock. In such cases, the following emergency measures can be taken: First, establish an intravenous access immediately, then start the patient on infusion therapy; Second, if the patient experiences a drop in blood pressure, vasopressor agents can be used for pressor therapy; Third, it's essential to provide the patient with cardiac monitoring, oxygenation, and other supportive treatments. In addition, it's crucial to use anti-allergy medications. There are many anti-allergic drugs available clinically, and the specific medication to be used should be decided based on the patient's specific condition. (Please administer medications under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Do you need a tetanus shot for a scrape?

Whether tetanus vaccination is necessary for an abrasion depends on the severity of the injury. For a minor abrasion where the wound is not deep, you can repeatedly rinse the wound with hydrogen peroxide or saline solution to wash off contaminants. After that, disinfect with iodine and perform simple bandaging. Change the dressing as needed. Such abrasions do not require a tetanus shot. However, if the abrasion is severe, the wound is deep, heavily contaminated, or caused by rusty metal, it is essential to receive tetanus vaccination while cleaning the wound in the hospital to prevent tetanus.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
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How many days after a tetanus shot should you not drink alcohol?

Tetanus injections are divided into tetanus toxoid, which requires a skin test, and tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test. It is advised not to drink alcohol before receiving a tetanus toxoid injection, as alcohol can cause dilation of the capillaries throughout the body, leading to flushed skin, which can affect the outcome of the skin test and result in false positive or false negative results, impacting treatment. Wounds requiring tetanus injections are generally either very deep, severely contaminated, or involve an open fracture, typically indicating a severe wound. It is advised not to consume alcohol during the wound healing period to avoid delaying recovery. Therefore, alcohol should be avoided for 24 hours before the tetanus shot and during the subsequent recovery period of the wound.