Welcome to Tetanus.org!

WHAT IS TETANUS?

• Tetanus is a serious disease that is caused by bacteria found in dust, soil, and manure¹
• Tetanus enters the body through many kinds of wounds—from a pinprick to a deep wound¹
• The bacteria live all over the world¹
• Tetanus is commonly called “lockjaw” since it can cause stiffness in the jaw muscles¹

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

• Symptoms may include¹:
 – Headache
 – Stiffness of the jaw (lockjaw)
 – Severe muscle spasms
 – Sweating
 – Fever
 – Stiffness of abdominal muscles
 – Difficulty swallowing
• Lockjaw is one of the most dangerous symptoms because it can lead to death by suffocation¹
• Symptoms usually begin about 8 days after infection, but may range in onset from 3 days to 3 weeks¹

HOW IS TETANUS TREATED?

• Treatment for tetanus may include medications, surgery, and bed rest²
• Even if a person recovers from tetanus, a tetanus shot is needed to ensure he or she doesn’t get it again¹

Clostridium tetani (tetanus)

Courtesy of The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
Tetanus spasms