What should I do if I am allergic to tetanus?

Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
Updated on December 11, 2024
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Mild symptoms of tetanus allergy mainly manifest as skin redness, itching, and the appearance of rashes, some of which occur a few days after the tetanus injection, with redness and itching at the injection site or the appearance of some rashes. Severe tetanus allergies can cause chest tightness, irritability, pale complexion, profuse sweating, low blood pressure, and slow pulse. In severe cases, it can lead to cessation of heartbeat and breathing. Once an allergic reaction to tetanus occurs, the injection of tetanus should be immediately discontinued, a venous pathway should be established, and aggressive treatment with adrenaline, dexamethasone, and calcium agents should be administered for the allergy.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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How to administer an injection if the tetanus skin test is negative

A negative tetanus skin test indicates that there is no allergy to tetanus antitoxin, and 1500 to 3000 units of tetanus antitoxin can be directly administered via intramuscular injection in the upper arm or buttock. If the wound is heavily contaminated or the injection is not timely, the dose may be doubled or tripled at discretion, and it is also necessary to clean and dress the wound. The purpose of administering tetanus antitoxin via intramuscular injection is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani. Therefore, patients with heavily contaminated or deep wounds must receive tetanus antitoxin treatment.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin
Emergency Department
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What are the situations for tetanus shots?

Objects carrying tetanus bacillus, or tissues damaged by animals, require tetanus vaccination to prevent tetanus, such as rusty nails, animal claws, animal bites, venomous snake bites, and wounds contaminated by dirt can easily lead to infection by tetanus bacillus. Tetanus is a possible condition, so after an injury, it is necessary to immediately rinse the wound with soap and water or running water to wash away the toxins, which helps reduce the chance of infection. Then thoroughly disinfect the wound with iodophor, which can also reduce infection, and go to the hospital to receive tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin within 24 hours to prevent the onset of tetanus. The incubation period for tetanus is generally three to seven days, but it can be longer, so it is advised to go to the hospital for an injection as soon as possible after injury, to prevent the onset of the disease and avoid serious events.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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When to get a tetanus shot

A tetanus shot is generally recommended to be administered immediately after an injury for the best efficacy. If given within 12 or 24 hours, it still provides certain preventive effects. The tetanus shot mainly consists of tetanus antitoxin and represents passive immunization. It is usually advised in cases of deep wounds with small surface areas that can create anaerobic conditions inside. If tetanus bacillus is present in the wound and proliferates massively under anaerobic conditions, the patient may exhibit symptoms such as opisthotonos, asphyxiation, or even death. Therefore, it is necessary to administer tetanus antitoxin for prevention.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei
General Surgery
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What department is the tetanus shot in?

Tetanus bacillus is actually a relatively common bacterium, usually caused by traumatic injuries, and is commonly encountered in daily life. Tetanus is an acute disease caused by the tetanus bacillus, and this disease must be managed through preventive measures. When injuries or wounds occur, it is very important to get a tetanus shot, which can usually be administered at a surgical department, allowing for immediate care in such emergencies. This disease is generally quite dangerous, so administering the tetanus vaccine within 24 hours is considered safer. Of course, depending on the specific timing, one could also visit the emergency department to get a tetanus shot urgently, which can also be effective in treatment.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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How many times do you need to get a tetanus shot?

If tetanus vaccination is required due to an injury, one injection is sufficient. There are two types of tetanus shots. One is called tetanus antitoxin, which is extracted from horse serum. For this, a skin test is needed to check for allergies. If allergic, tetanus antitoxin cannot be used; if not, it can be used. The other type is refined tetanus antitoxin, also known as tetanus immune globulin, extracted from human serum. This type does not require a skin test and can be used directly, but it is more expensive than tetanus antitoxin. If tetanus treatment is needed for each injury, one injection is sufficient.