If i don't get the Tetnus shot what would happen to me?

Question

ok i got my 1st qustion answered about what would happen if i step on a rusted nail but now I have one more question what would happen if i decide not to get the tetnus shot, and how long will it be before i start to see the results of not getting the shot?

Answer 1

What? Are you afraid of a little tetanus shot or something.
Trust me it's worth it to get one. Better than dying from tetanus!!!!

Answer 2

Hello:
This answer is in response to your question posted on yahoo concerning a tetanus shot.
Tetanus (commonly referred to as "lockjaw") is a bacterial disease (caused by clostridium tetani) that you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WANT TO CONTRACT! The fatality rate is very high and patients usually die from respiratory failure. Tetanus causes the muscles in your body to contract in constant fashion (this is called "tetany"). This includes the muscles of respiration (including the diaphragm) in addition to the muscles of the jaws.
It is recommended by the CDC, ACIP, APA, AAFP that EVERYONE get a booster every ten years. If you have not had a tetanus booster in the past ten years, then you MUST get one. I beg of you, get one!
Symptoms can start a few days after infection or a few weeks or more. It just depends on the person and the status of their immune system.
Now if you stepped on a rusty nail and you were wearing tennis shoes with rubber souls, there is another thing you need to worry about. There is another specific bacteria that thrives on the rubber soles. When stepping on a nail, it pushes the bacteria up through the shoe and into your foot and cause a very serious bacterial infection, so if you did, you should see your physician immediately. Again, if you have not had a tetanus shot in the last ten years, PLEASE get one. You can get tetanus in other ways than just stepping on a rusted nail. It is all around us in the environment, especially in the soil.
I hope this helped answer your question and alleviate some of your concerns. I didn't mean to frighten or scare you but I wanted to get my point across.
Regards,
Warren Shaffer, M.D.

Answer 3

You are at high risk for developing tetanus, which is a really sucky disease. If you are lucky, you will die a slow, painful death from respiratory paralysis. If you are unlucky enough to survive it, you will be horribly crippled for the rest of your miserable existence, probably to the point that you will need a respirator to help you breathe. Get the shot. Symptoms appear in about 14 days, vaccines are most effective when given within 48 hours of injury. It is one little shot in your ***, why would you not do this right away?

Answer 4

Lockjaw 3 days to 15 weeks:
Symptoms
The incubation period for tetanus is 3 days to as long as 15 weeks (with the average being about 8 days) [1]. For neonates, the incubation period is 4 to 14 days, with 7 days being the average. Most of the time, the further the wound is from the central nervous system, the longer the incubation period. Incubation period length and likelihood of death are inversely proportional; a deep, contaminated wound that allows the bacteria to flourish and causes a quick, aggressive infection is much more life-threatening than a shallower, less-contaminated wound that causes milder symptoms to appear days or weeks later.

The first sign of tetanus is a mild jaw muscle spasm called lockjaw (trismus), followed by stiffness of the neck and back, risus sardonicus, difficulty swallowing, and muscle rigidity in the abdomen. The stiffness and spasming of muscles expands throughout the body inferiorly, and can be so powerful that they cause muscle tears and even fractures[2]. These muscle contractions are due to tetanospasmin—a chemical released by C. tetani—which inhibits the release of both GABA and glycine, the neurotransmitters that serve to inhibit muscle contraction.

Typical signs of tetanus include an increase in body temperature by 2 to 4°C, diaphoresis (excessive sweating), an elevated blood pressure, and an episodic rapid heart rate. Spasms and muscle contraction last for 3 to 4 weeks, and complete recovery may take months. About 30% of tetanus victims die, most of whom are elderly patients. In developing countries, the mortality rate may be as high as 60%.

Complications of the disease include spasms of the larynx (vocal cords), accessory muscles (chest muscles used to aid in breathing), and the diaphragm (the primary breathing muscle); fractures of long bones secondary to violent muscle spasms; and hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system.

Answer 5

Tetanus (lockjaw) has a worldwide mortality rate of 50%. Death is most likely in the very young, very old or IV drug users. Prognosis is grave if it progresses rapidly or treatment is delayed.

Tetanus is a disease caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. Spores can live for years in soil and animal feces. Infection can gain entry both superficial wounds and deep contaminated wounds. In the U.S. people with burns or surgical wounds and injecting drug users are at risk. Symptoms appear 5-10 days after infection with the bacteria, bu they can appear as soon as two days or as late as 50 days.

Why would you take a chance of not getting it. It is just one shot!

Answer 6

Tetnus shot helps fight illness , you really should get it.Got 2 figure a few seconds of pain from a shot or a treat of serious diseases that can take a long time to heal

Answer 7

wait wait...are you actually trying to get tetanus? It would be foolish not to get a tetanus shot if you step on a rusted nail, but stepping on a rusted nail will not 'always' give you tetanus, there is just a good chance really if the infection is present there - you can get tetanus from soil even...if in doubt...get a shot!

Answer 8

There are different causes of lock jaw and the cause determines treatment. Tetanus is an acute infection caused by a bacillus and characterized by spasmodic contractions of the jaw muscles. With a tetanus infection, incorrect diagnosis leads to death. The most common cause is spasm and shortening of the jaw muscles. Muscle spasm is treated with moist heat and TMJ exercises to loosen the muscles. With muscle spasm, the lower jaw can slide laterally but not open.

Answer 9

If you stepped on a rusty nail or a dirty piece of metal , you'd get lockjaw, and that's not a very pretty site. I f you get bit by a dog with Rabies and don't get a shot , you'd die. taking the tetanus shot would prevent all of this

Answer 10

um, well I imagine if you didn't get the tetnus shot after stepping on the nail you would get a nasty infection in your foot that would spread and you would end loosing your leg, or if the infection went into the blood you could die.

Answer 11

If you develop an infection, your foot would swell and there would be a red streak running from the injury to the bloodstream. Your foot will be feverish, and the fever can spread. With tetanus, you would get a stiff neck, possibly lock-jaw, loss of appetite.