How long does a tetanus shot last?

Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
Updated on February 09, 2025
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Tetanus prophylactic treatment is advised to be carried out as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours for optimal effectiveness. However, prevention treatment can still be carried out after 24 hours, as long as the disease has not manifested. Current research does not prove that tetanus prevention is ineffective after this period. Therefore, timely and effective preventive treatment should be implemented following high-risk tetanus infection factors, choosing either tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin. The incubation period for tetanus infection is about a week, and as long as the disease has not manifested, choosing appropriate medication can have a preventive effect. Tetanus antitoxin and tetanus immunoglobulin have different metabolic cycles; the half-life of tetanus antitoxin is generally about three days, whereas tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Can tetanus be treated?

Tetanus is a specific infectious disease, most cases of which present as muscle tension and rigidity. Specific symptoms include difficulty opening the mouth, a sardonic smile, stiff neck, and opisthotonus. In severe cases, difficulties in breathing or even cessation of breathing can occur, and in critical cases, the heartbeat may also stop. Once tetanus occurs, it is crucial to seek active treatment at a hospital. With proper and systematic treatment provided by hospitals, most patients can be cured. Therefore, tetanus is a curable infectious disease.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
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How many tetanus shots are administered?

A tetanus shot is sufficient; tetanus treatment can be divided into tetanus toxoid, which requires a skin test, and tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test. The tetanus bacillus is commonly found in anaerobic wounds and heavily contaminated wounds, such as those contaminated with soil and rust etc., which can lead to colonization of tetanus bacilli on human mucous membranes and invasion of the body, producing toxins that affect the jaw muscles and respiratory muscles, causing difficulty in breathing and, in severe cases, endangering life. Therefore, for patients who need antitetanus treatment, it is imperative to undergo such treatment, generally with just one injection.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
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Can you drink alcohol with tetanus?

After receiving a tetanus vaccine, it is not recommended to drink alcohol. It is best to avoid spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods. Usually, when patients are injured, they may need to receive a tetanus vaccine. Especially when injured by rusty metal, the tetanus vaccine can effectively prevent tetanus. However, drinking alcohol at the same time as receiving the tetanus vaccine can easily lead to a drug reaction, causing adverse reactions. For example, increased heart rate, dizziness, palpitations, vomiting, and even shock, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. Furthermore, drinking alcohol is also detrimental to the healing of wounds. Depending on the recovery of the body, patients can generally drink a small amount of alcohol after a week.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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How is tetanus diagnosed?

The diagnosis of tetanus requires comprehensive consideration. If the patient has a history of trauma with skin or mucosal wounds, and shows signs of muscle spasms, such as difficulty opening the mouth, stiffening of the neck, and increased reflexes, the possibility of a tetanus infection should be considered. Further, a culture of the wound can be conducted to see if Clostridium tetani can be cultured. If the culture is positive, a definitive diagnosis can be made. Additionally, tetanus needs to be differentiated from other diseases such as purulent meningitis, rabies, epilepsy, hysteria, and so on.

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Written by Li Jin Quan
General Surgery
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Do you still need a skin test for tetanus allergy?

Under normal circumstances, if there is an allergy to tetanus, a skin test is not required. If tetanus vaccination is indeed necessary, human immunoglobulin can be injected, and this does not require a skin test. 250 units can be injected directly. Additionally, tetanus antitoxin desensitization injections can be used. The so-called desensitization injection involves diluting 1500 units of tetanus antitoxin into doses of 0.1 ml, 0.2 ml, 0.3 ml, and 0.4 ml, totaling 1 ml, and administering it in four doses, each 20 minutes apart. After the injections are completed, an observation period of 30 minutes is required to ensure there are no adverse reactions before the patient can leave.