Tetanus shot when do kids get

The bacteria make a toxin a chemical or poison that harms the body. This toxin attaches to nerves around a wound area and travels inside the nerves to the brain or spinal cord. There it interferes with the normal activity of nerves, especially the motor nerves that send direct messages to muscles. In the United States, most cases of tetanus follow a contaminated cut or deep puncture injury, such as a wound caused by stepping on a nail.

Sometimes the injury is so small the person never even sees a doctor. Another form of tetanus, neonatal tetanus , happens in newborns born in unsanitary conditions, especially if the umbilical cord stump becomes contaminated. Routine immunizations and sanitary cord care have made newborn tetanus very rare in developed countries. Tetanus often begins with muscle spasms in the jaw called trismus.

Someone also can have trouble swallowing and stiffness or pain in the muscles of the neck, shoulders, or back. The spasms can spread to the muscles of the belly, upper arms, and thighs. The symptoms can happen days to months after exposure to the bacteria. Someone who has tetanus will be treated in a hospital, usually in the intensive care unit ICU.

There, they usually get antibiotics to kill bacteria and tetanus immune globulin TIG to neutralize the toxin already released. Tetanus is a serious disease caused by a toxin poison made by bacteria. It causes painful muscle stiffness and can be deadly. When the tetanus bacteria invade the body, they produce a poison toxin that causes painful muscle contractions. Tetanus is very dangerous. It can cause breathing problems, muscle spasms, and paralysis unable to move parts of the body.

It can take months to recover fully from tetanus. A child might need weeks of hospital care. As many as 1 out of 5 people who get tetanus dies. Stepping on nails or other sharp objects is one way people are exposed to the bacteria that cause tetanus. These bacteria are in the environment and get into the body through breaks in the skin. Tetanus is different from other vaccine-preventable diseases because it does not spread from person to person.

Tetanus bacteria are found in soil, dust, and manure. It gets into the body through breaks in the skin, including:. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend children receive all vaccines according to the recommended vaccine schedule.

Birth - 6 years schedule. Viewing discretion is advised. If you've never had the tetanus vaccine before, you may be advised to have as many doses as possible before you travel. There should be a 1-month gap between each dose. If there's not enough time to have all the doses you need, you can complete the course when you return. Page last reviewed: 14 May Next review due: 14 May Tetanus is a serious but rare condition caused by bacteria getting into a wound.

How you get tetanus Tetanus bacteria can survive for a long time outside the body and are commonly found in soil and the manure of animals such as horses and cows. The bacteria can get into your body through: cuts and grazes tears or splits in the skin burns animal bites body piercings, tattoos and injections eye injuries injecting contaminated drugs Tetanus cannot be spread from person to person.

Symptoms of tetanus The symptoms of tetanus usually start around 4 to 21 days after infection. The main symptoms of tetanus include: stiffness in your jaw muscles lockjaw , which can make it difficult to open your mouth painful muscle spasms, which can make it difficult to breathe and swallow a high temperature sweating a rapid heartbeat If it's not treated, the symptoms can get worse over the following hours and days.

When to get medical advice Contact a GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit if you're concerned about a wound, particularly if: it's a deep wound there's dirt or something inside the wound you have not been fully vaccinated for tetanus, or you're not sure if you have A doctor will assess the wound and decide whether you need treatment and whether you need to go to hospital.

How tetanus is treated If a doctor thinks there's a chance you could develop tetanus from a wound, but you do not yet have any symptoms, they'll make sure your wound is thoroughly cleaned. Most people who develop symptoms of tetanus do recover, but it can take several weeks or months. Tetanus vaccination The tetanus vaccine is given as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme. The full course of vaccination includes 5 injections, usually given on the following schedule: the first 3 doses are given as part of the 6-in-1 vaccine at age 8, 12 and 16 weeks a booster dose is given as part of the 4-in-1 pre-school booster at age 3 years and 4 months a final dose is given as part of the 3-in-1 teenage booster at age 14 This course of 5 injections should provide long-lasting protection against tetanus.