Tetanus is a serious condition caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. This bacteria produces harmful toxins.
Tetanus is usually found in soil and the manure of animals such as horses and cows. The bacteria can survive for a long time outside the human body.
The bacteria can enter your body through an open wound such as a bite, burn or scratch.
Tetanus is not contagious. It does not spread from person to person.
But people can get tetanus if they:
- never got a tetanus vaccine
- did not get all the doses of the vaccine needed to be fully vaccinated
Symptoms of tetanus
The symptoms of tetanus usually develop 3 to 21 days after infection. Most start after about 10 days.
Symptoms include:
- a stiff jaw (lockjaw)
- painful muscle spasms, often in your back, tummy, arms, legs, hands and feet
- bone fractures (breaks) because of muscle contractions
- difficulty breathing
- difficulty swallowing
- sweating
- an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Symptoms get worse without treatment. Tetanus can be fatal.
Urgent advice: Contact your GP or out-of-hours GP for an urgent appointment if
you have a wound and:
- the wound is deep
- there's dirt or something inside the wound
- you're not sure if you got the tetanus vaccine
- you did not get all the doses of the tetanus vaccine
- your last dose of the vaccine was over 10 years ago
- you have a high temperature, or you feel hot, cold or shivery
- you feel unwell
The GP will assess the wound. They will decide if you need to go to hospital.
Emergency action required: Go to your nearest emergency department or call 112 or 999 if
you have a wound and you:
- develop severe muscle stiffness or spasms
- find it hard to breathe
- have a fast heartbeat
Tetanus is a medical emergency that needs to be treated immediately in hospital.
How tetanus is treated
If you are treated in hospital, staff may:
- clean your wound
- give you medicine that kills tetanus (tetanus immunoglobulin), if you need it
- give you a tetanus booster vaccine, if you need it
Tetanus immunoglobulin works immediately but only gives short-term protection from tetanus.
If you develop symptoms of tetanus, you may need to be treated in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU).
Most people who develop symptoms of tetanus recover. But it can take several weeks or months.
Tetanus vaccination
Tetanus is prevented by vaccination.
Tetanus vaccination is part of our childhood vaccination programme.
It is given when you child is a baby and they get boosters when they are in school through the School Vaccination Programme.
When your child is offered tetanus vaccines
Your child will get a tetanus vaccine at:
- 2 months, 4 months and 6 months old
- 13 months (for children born on or after 1 October 2024)
- junior infants - 4-in-1 booster vaccine
- first year of secondary school - Tdap booster vaccine
It is often given along with other vaccines.
You need 5 tetanus injections to be fully vaccinated. This should provide long-lasting protection against tetanus.
But if you or your child has a deep or dirty wound, it's best to get medical advice.
Non-urgent advice: Contact your GP or local immunisation office if you:
- are not sure you or your child had all their vaccines
If you were not vaccinated as a child, you can still get fully vaccinated.
Tetanus vaccine and travelling
Talk to your GP or travel vaccine clinic if you plan to travel to an area with poor medical facilities and you:
- did not get all doses of the tetanus vaccine
- got the last dose of the vaccine over 10 years ago
- never got a tetanus vaccine
If you never got the vaccine, you need 3 doses before you leave. You need to wait 1 month between each dose. You can get the other doses when you return.