Tetanus: Make Sure You and Your Child Are Fully Immunized
Tetanus is an infection caused by bacteria. When the bacteria
invade the body, they produce a toxin, or poison, that causes
painful muscle contractions. Tetanus infection mainly affects
the neck and abdomen. Tetanus is also called "lockjaw" because
it often causes a person's neck and jaw muscles to lock, making
it hard to open the mouth or swallow. It can also cause
breathing problems, severe muscle spasms, and seizures. Complete
recovery can take months. If left untreated, tetanus can be
fatal. Tetanus is different from other vaccine-preventable
diseases in that it does not spread from person to person. The
bacteria are usually found in soil, dust and manure and enter
the body through breaks in the skin – usually cuts or puncture
wounds. The bacteria can then produce a toxin that spreads
through the body causing the painful symptoms of tetanus. About
3 weeks after exposure, you might get a headache, and have
spasms in the jaw muscles. The muscle spasm