What are the side effects of a tetanus shot?

Answer 1

A sore arm

Answer 2

I just had one a few weeks ago as my cat bit me. I had a little reaction so I can tell you.

You might have: a sore arm, it might swell as big as an egg in the injection site, you might feel "hot" in the arm like a fever, you might run a fever, you might feel a little sick like you were coming down with something. These are normal reactions.

If you have breathing problems, a tight feeling in your chest, your throat swells, or you turn bright red like a sunburn, go back to the ER, you're having an allergic reaction.

Answer 3

Tetanus toxoid has proved to be safe and effective since its introduction during the 1920's. Tetanus toxoid consists of inactivated tetanus toxin. For practical purposes tetanus should be considered a disease against which there is no naturally acquired immunity and one that is entirely preventable with appropriate immunization and wound care.

Tetanus toxoid is very effective in preventing illness. There are two types of tetanus toxoid available, and both produce immunity to the tetanus toxin or poison. Tetanus toxoid is available by itself, or frequently is administered as one of two or three components in a vaccine. It can be combined as follows:

with diphtheria toxoid and pertussis vaccine (DTP) for primary immunization of children younger than 7 years old,
with full-dose diphtheria toxoid (DT) for children who are younger than 7 years old and have a medical reason not to receive pertussis vaccination, and
with reduced-dose diphtheria toxoid (Td) for immunization of older children and adults.
Completion of the primary series will produce immunity to tetanus for at least 10 years in 95 percent or more of the vaccinees. Booster doses are recommended every 10 years to ensure the maintenance of protective antitoxin levels.
However, anyone who sustains a wound other than a minor cut - and especially a wound that is deep or becomes contaminated with dirt - should receive a tetanus booster if more than 5 years have elapsed since the last dose. If you aren't sure whether your wound is serious enough to require a dose of tetanus toxoid, check with your doctor
Reactions to tetanus vaccine are generally minor and local, such as redness, swelling or tenderness at the site of injection, but the administration of more frequent booster vaccinations increases the risk of these and, also generalized reactions such as fever.

Local reactions are similar to DTP, but are generally milder. They are usually self-limited and require no therapy.

Severe local reactions, for example painful swelling from shoulder to elbow, generally beginning 2-8 hours after injections, have been reported in some adults, particularly those who have received frequent, which means annual, doses of tetanus toxoid. Persons experiencing these severe reactions should not get routine or emergency booster doses of adult formula tetanus - diphtheria toxoid more frequently than every 10 years. Less severe local, allergic reactions may occur in persons who have had multiple prior boosters. Rarely, severe reactions such as generalized rashes, difficulty in breathing, or nervous system problems have been reported after receipt of tetanus toxoid.