How do I know I have tetanus?

Question

I've looked this up quite a bit but I still would like information from someone knowledgeable and experienced. What are some tell-tale symptoms of early tetanus? Would I be certain I had it if these symptoms were present? How long can it stay in the early stages without becoming serious, and how likely am I to even get it if I've had a shot five years ago?
I had a really nasty cut awhile ago, and it looks healed, but I know the disease can spread throughout your body. I don't want to waste money going to a doctor just to ask about it.
Any information is welcome, but I'm really looking for someone who is a nurse or other trained medical worker who REALLY knows what they're talking about.
Thank you.

Things I should have added:

I have a stiff neck, but that has always been there, just not as bad

Twitching or spasms that occured weeks after the injury, but the injury was months ago. They are not severe. Could this even be nerve damage. The injury needed 8 stitches and might have severed nerves.

muscular pain (but I never exercise and that could contribute)

Trouble breathing sometimes and trouble swallowing.

Answer 1

It's kind of surprising that whoever put in the stitches did not discuss tetanus protection with you. Perhaps they did ask and you don;t remember it, and if your last shot was five years ago, that would have been considered protective unless it was a really high risk injury, like a puncture wound in a barnyard.

The bacteria that causes tetanus is an anaerobe, an oxygen hater, so it grows best in deep wounds where air cannot reach. A cut, ugly or not, is more superficial and the risk is usually less.

The old name for tetanus was "lockjaw" because the muscle spasm would make it difficult or impossible to open your mouth. The nervous system is usually affected and victims may need to be on ventilators.

The incubation period for tetanus is 7 to 21 days, so if it has been longer than that, it's very unlikely you are suffering from tetanus.

However, the symptoms you mention are serious enough on their own to merit a trip to the doctor. Difficulty in swallowing and breathing are red flags that something needs to be checked. Add your other symptoms and you have a strong indication of needing a diagnosis, tetanus or not.

I understand not wanting to go to a doctor's appointment for "nothing" but something is making you have these problems. Call your doctor and tell them what you are experiencing. Calls don't cost you a thing and they can tell you whether you need care urgently or if you can wait and just monitor things.

Currently we only have 20 to 45 cases of tetanus a year in the US, so even those of us with lots of medical experience may never have seen it personally. (I worked in patient care nearly 30 years before swithcing to teaching and saw one case.) BUt you should be evlauated not only for a diagnosis but for your own peace of mind.

For more info you can check the CDC website, one of the most authoritative. You may have already been there, but I'll leave the link for the curious.
http://www.cdc.gov (use "tetanus" in the search box or add this
/niP/publications/pink/tetanus.pdf#search=%22tetanus%22 to the link. Answers won't allow a link that long.)

Answer 2

pores of the bacterium Clostridium tetani live in the soil and are found around the world. In the spore form, C. tetani may remain dormant in the soil, and it can remain infectious for more than 40 years.

Tetanus causes approximately five deaths per year in the U.S. Internationally, reports show up to 1 million cases annually, mostly in developing countries. Tetanus infections in newborns accounts for about half of tetanus-related deaths in developing countries.

Infection begins when the spores are introduced into an injury or wound. The spores germinate, releasing active bacteria that multiply and produce a neurotoxin called tetanospasmin. Tetanospasmin selectively blocks inhibitory nerve transmission from the spinal cord to the muscles, allowing the muscles to go into severe spasm. Spasmodic contractions can be so powerful that they tear the muscles or cause compression fractures of the vertebrae.

Tetanus often begins with mild spasms in the jaw muscles (trismus), neck muscles, and facial muscles. Stiffness rapidly develops in the chest, back, abdominal muscles, and sometimes the laryngeal muscles (which then interferes with breathing). Muscular seizures (tetany) cause sudden, powerful, and painful contraction of muscle groups. These episodes can cause fractures and muscle tears.

Without treatment, one out of three affected people die. The mortality rate for newborns with untreated tetanus is even higher: two out of three. With proper treatment, less than 10% of infected patients die.

The incubation period is 5 days to 15 weeks, with 7 days as the average. About 100 cases of tetanus occur every year in the U.S., the vast majority in un-immunized individuals or those whose last immunization was no longer current. In developing countries, tetanus frequently causes death in newborn infants when the umbilical stump becomes infected.

Answer 3

Let's hear it for Viagra and tetanus shots!

Answer 4

If you have had the shot you are probably fine. I saw a man in the hospital one time with tetanus and it was a very debilitating disease. If you have a lot of the following symptoms, don't hesitate seeing your doctor:

Symptoms of localized tetanus (usually near a wound site) are often milder:
Local muscle stiffness
Localized muscle twitches
Localized muscle spasms
Symptoms of generalized tetanus are often severe:
Jaw stiffness
Restlessness
Stiff neck
Difficulty swallowing
Fever
Chills
Sore throat
Headache
Stiff arms
Stiff legs
Trismus (lockjaw)
Facial muscle spasm
Fixed smile
Permanent raised eyebrows
Exposed teeth
Neck muscle spasm
Neck muscle rigidity
Arched back
Back muscle spasm
Spinchter muscle spasm
Urine retention
Feces retention
Muscle contractions
Hyperreflexia
Glottal spasm
Difficulty breathing
Generalized muscle spasms
Opisthotonos
Muscle spasms triggered by minor disturbance
Muscle spasms triggered by noise
Respiratory spasm
Seizures
Paralysis
Extreme agony
High fever
Sweating
Anxiety

Answer 5

you are alive and breathing that means you don't have tetanus, if you had tetanus your muscles would start to tighten up, till its difficult for you to move around, your back muscles would contract pulling you into curved position, and you would Be locked in that position.
If you don't have the above symptoms then you don't have tetanus, and by the way get a Tetanus shot every year (although its effect lasts for 10 years, bet getting one every year would make sure that you are safe.)

Answer 6

tetanus shots are only once every ten years so dont worry about it. you are fine.

Answer 7

Please see the webpage for more details on Tetanus. You should take tetanus toxoid from the nearest hospital immediately.

Answer 8

Just go 2 the clinic and get the tetnus there, its free.

Answer 9

lock jaw