Tetanus Shot

Were you recently hurt and the wound is deep? When was the last time you took a tetanus shot? At an average it's always more than 10 years ago? Then you should rush to your health care professional and get yourself vaccinated for tetanus.

What is Tetanus?
Tetanus is a bacterial infection, caused by a bacteria called Clostridium tetani which affects the nervous system, at the same time it can also be fatal. Tetanus is a bacteria which can enter the body from a small opening like pin prick. There are other ways from where the bacteria can enter the body like animal scratches, splinters, bug bites and also from sun burnt skin. However, it is not contagious and cannot be transferred from person to person. The bacteria lives in an oxygen rich environment. The best defense mechanism against this deadly bacteria is a tetanus shot. Although this disease has come under control due to the vaccine that is now available, the old and the young alike still succumb to this bacteria.

When should Tetanus Vaccination be Started?
Tetanus vaccination is one of the most important and recommended immunizations, which should be initiated in the infancy stage itself. The first time an infant is vaccinated, the infant will receive a series of five tetanus shots. The vaccination starts, when the infant is two months and finishes by the time the child becomes 5 years old.

Now the question arises, tetanus shot - how often? Should a tetanus shot be taken after the vaccination series?. The answer is that the booster tetanus shot frequency should be taken once after every 10 years. If, as an infant you were not vaccinated, you will have to be administered a series of three tetanus shots. In case of a wound, apart from a tetanus shot, your health care professional will also give you another injection called the tetanus immune globulin. This injection works way faster than the tetanus shot, but if it has been sometime since you have suffered the wound, it will not be of any use.

Tetanus Shot Side Effects
Often when children are vaccinated for tetanus, they have bouts of crying and there is also localized pain associated with it. These are the common side effects from a tetanus shot. A tetanus shot pain is normally singled out to be more painful than other vaccinations. The tetanus shot pain duration is different for every one. For some people the tetanus shot pain can last up to a few days and for others even for weeks.

The other side effects of the tetanus vaccine is a feeling of numbness in the arm, where the vaccine was injected. This feeling of numbness starts within minutes of taking the tetanus shot. There are those who complain of a marble like hard sensation at the site where the tetanus shot was taken. The pain is often accompanied by pain in the arms, neck and whole of the back. Read more on tetanus shot side effects.

Tetanus shot side effects also include general fatigue and muscle weakness. To relieve a patient of the tetanus shot pain, doctors do prescribe pain killers. The more serious side effects of tetanus shots are rashes, hives or more pronounced muscle weakness.

Are you now wondering why is the tetanus shot painful? The reason is yet unclear, however, most researchers say it has got to do with the bacteria itself. What ever be the pain caused by the shot, the benefits which are reaped due to the antibodies created are enormous. Maybe the antibodies themselves can be a reason behind the pain.

There are many adults, who have stopped taking the booster tetanus shots all together. It has not caused much harm to their general health. However, in case of an injury it is important that you do take a tetanus shot.