Does a tetanus shot hurt?

Written by Gao Sen

General Surgery

Updated on April 07, 2025

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Tetanus shots are certainly painful, but why do they hurt? Firstly, because a skin test is needed for tetanus, which primarily involves injecting the drug under the skin of the forearm to form a small bump about 0.5cm in diameter. It is known that there are abundant nerve endings under the skin, so the injection of the drug can cause local swelling and compress the surrounding nerves, and the drug can also cause an irritation response in the surrounding nerves, which is why tetanus shots are painful.

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Written by Zhang Peng

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How long does the tetanus shot last?

The duration of the effectiveness of a tetanus shot depends on whether tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin is administered following a suspected tetanus infection. Both types are forms of artificial passive immunity, providing immediate specific immunity after injection, mainly for treatment or emergency prevention. The metabolism and immune duration of these two injections vary: generally, tetanus antitoxin lasts about seven days, while tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks. Therefore, the specific duration of the effectiveness of a tetanus shot must be determined based on the individual injection circumstances. For suspected tetanus infections, it is generally advised to administer the injection as soon as possible. It's not that the injection will be ineffective if administered after a certain time, but rather that effective prevention before the onset of the disease can still be beneficial.

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Written by Li Jin Quan

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Tetanus nursing measures

Tetanus Patient Care: First, isolate the patient and maintain a quiet environment to minimize disturbances. Second, communicate carefully with the patient to alleviate their anxiety and boost their confidence in overcoming the illness. Third, install bed rails on both sides of the bed to prevent the patient from falling out. Additionally, use a mouth guard to prevent tongue injuries during spasms. Fourth, pay attention to the care of the patient's oral cavity and skin to prevent the development of oral ulcers, skin breakdown, or pressure sores.

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Written by Li Xiao Lin

Emergency Department

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Will tetanus cause muscle soreness?

Tetanus can cause muscle pain. The main symptoms of a tetanus attack include sudden onset, impaired consciousness, frothing at the mouth, limb convulsions, body stiffness, presenting in an opisthotonos posture, and concurrent incontinence of urine and feces, with the duration varying according to the condition. Because convulsions cause the muscles to be in a state of rigidity, this leads to muscle ischemia and hypoxia, thereby increasing lactic acid and causing this state of muscle pain. Therefore, during a tetanus attack, measures should be taken to control these convulsions. At the same time, use chopsticks to prop against the teeth to prevent biting the tongue and other such incidents. If the condition is severe, immediately call emergency services (120) to get to a hospital for urgent treatment.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui

General Surgery

47sec

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Is the tetanus shot safe?

It is safe to receive tetanus treatment at an accredited hospital. There are two types of tetanus injections: the tetanus toxoid, which requires a skin test, and the tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test. Alcohol consumption must be avoided before using the tetanus toxoid. If the skin test is negative, the injection is safe. The other type, tetanus immunoglobulin, can be used directly without a skin test. Tetanus injections from reputable manufacturers and hospitals are safe. However, some people may experience symptoms such as pain, nausea, and vomiting during the tetanus injection. Typically, these symptoms can be alleviated and disappear with symptomatic treatment after the injection.

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Written by Zhang Da Wei

General Surgery

49sec

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What are the symptoms of tetanus sequelae?

Tetanus, a viral infection problem, is actually quite a common disease. Usually, if the wound is deep or caused by rusty metals, there is a higher possibility of it leading to a tetanus infection. This condition requires timely treatment or prevention, otherwise, it can easily lead to complications. For example, tetanus typically causes complications primarily related to the lungs, such as pneumonia and pulmonary edema, among other issues, which are quite typical. The infected individual may experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, coughing, nausea, etc., all of which could be a result of tetanus bacteria infection. In the case of a deep wound, it is crucial to promptly administer a vaccine to prevent exacerbation of the infection, and local treatment should be performed to effectively prevent it.