Tetanus vaccine

Symptoms of tetanus

The symptoms of tetanus usually start around 4 to 21 days after infection. Most people get symptoms after about 10 days.

The symptoms of tetanus include:

• a stiff jaw (lockjaw), which can make opening your mouth difficult

• painful muscle spasms, often in your back, tummy, arms, legs, hands and feet

• difficulty breathing

• swallowing problems

• a high temperature

• sweating

• a fast heartbeat

• fits (seizures)

Treatments for tetanus

If you have tetanus, or a wound that has a high risk of being infected, you’ll be treated in hospital.

Treatments for tetanus include:

• cleaning the wound – any dirt, soil or dead tissue will be removed

• an injection with a medicine called tetanus immunoglobulin

• other medicines, such as antibiotics and medicines to help control painful muscle spasms and stiffness

• help with breathing using a machine that gives you oxygen

You may need a tetanus vaccine or booster if you’ve not been fully vaccinated (5 doses in total), or if your vaccination history is uncertain.

It can take several weeks or sometimes months to fully recover from tetanus.

How to avoid getting tetanus

The best way to avoid getting tetanus is to make sure you’re fully vaccinated against it.

The vaccines are given at:

• 8, 12 and 16 weeks – as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine

• 3 years and 4 months – as part of the 4-in-1 pre-school booster

• 14 years – as part of the 3-in-1 teenage booster

Check with your GP surgery if you’re not sure which vaccinations you or your child has had in the past.

Advice for travellers

Make sure you’re up to date with your routine vaccinations before travelling.

Tetanus vaccinations may be recommended before travelling if:

• you’re going to an area where it may be difficult to get medical help quickly and your last vaccine dose was more than 10 years ago

• you’ve not been fully vaccinated

We provide a comprehensive range of travel vaccinations and antimalarials. It is recommended that you book your appointment 6-8 weeks prior to your travel to ensure that you can get the recommended vaccinations on time.