What exactly is a tetnus shot?

Question

And why do you need a tetnus shot after being bit by a cat? I only knew about tetnus shots and like rusty nails...

Answer 1

The following is used by permission from www.mdconsult.com

Tetanus Vaccine
What is the tetanus vaccine?
The tetanus vaccine is a shot that protects you against the disease tetanus. This rare but often fatal disease is caused by bacteria called Clostridium tetani. These bacteria live everywhere in the outdoors, especially in soil. The bacteria can enter your body through a break in the skin, such as a cut. When you are infected, powerful poisons produced by the bacteria cause the muscles to contract uncontrollably in spasms. Tetanus is also called lockjaw because the most common symptom is tightening of the jaw muscles caused by spasms of the neck and jaw muscles.

Why do I need a tetanus shot?
There is no antibiotic treatment for tetanus, so you need to have the shot for protection against the infection. There are about 100 cases of tetanus each year in the US. Of all people who get tetanus in the US, about 1 in 3 die.

It is impossible to avoid the cuts and wounds that commonly occur during everyday life. The tetanus bacteria can enter the body through these breaks in the skin and cause a very serious infection. For this reason, it is very important to keep your tetanus shots up to date.

When should I get a tetanus shot?
Most people are first immunized in childhood by a 3-in-1 vaccine referred to as DPT. The DPT shot immunizes against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus. After childhood, you need a booster shot for diphtheria and tetanus every 10 years.

Complete a 3-shot series if you did not have the shots when you were a child. The second shot is given 4 to 8 weeks after the first, and the third shot is given 6 to 12 months after that. You then need a booster shot at least every 10 years.

Whenever you have a dirty cut, animal bite, or puncture wound, check to see when you last had a booster shot. Get another shot within 3 days of the injury if


The wound is dirty or involves rusty metal AND
It has been more than 5 years since your last tetanus shot or you do not know when you last had a tetanus shot.

Try to get the shot the same day as the injury if possible. If you cannot get the shot within 1 to 3 days of the injury, get it as soon as you can. The bacteria multiply quickly if they become trapped in a wound and you are not immunized.

What other things should I know about tetanus shots?

You can get a tetanus shot at your health care provider's office or at most local health departments.
Side effects from the shot can include temporary soreness and swelling in the arm where you got the shot. Fever is rare.
Do not get the shot if you have a fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher. However, you can have the shot if you have a mild cold or other minor illness. If you are sick, you might want to discuss your illness with your health care provider before getting the shot.
Do not get the shot if you are allergic to thimerosal (a mercury derivative that is a preservative), or if you have had an allergic reaction to a previous tetanus shot.
Keep track of when you get booster shots. You should not have the shot more often than every 5 to 10 years because you could become allergic to the vaccine. Then it would be risky for you to have any more shots and you would no longer be protected against tetanus.

For more information on adult immunizations, contact:

National Coalition for Adult Immunization
4733 Bethesda Avenue, Suite 750
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-656-0003

You can also get information from your local health department.



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Published by McKesson Provider Technologies.

This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.


Written by Carolyn Norrgard, RNC, BA, MEd, and Carol Matheis-Kraft, PhD, RNC, for McKesson Provider Technologies.

Copyright © 2005 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.

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The following comes from me by way of even newer CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommednations. Since pertussis (whooping cough) is on the rise in this country, you are wise to request that your tetanus shot be the new TdP (tetanus, diptheria and pertussis) rather than the old Td (tetanus, diptheria combination).

Answer 2

Tecna Shot

Answer 3

It's a shot that protects you against the tetanus disease. It's caused by a bacteria called Clostridium tetani, and it lives everywhere outside. It can get in your body through any break in the skin. The reason you're told to get it after being bit or scratched by a cat is because a cat's feet touch the ground ( they lick their feet), and if they scratch or bite you, the bacteria will get into your blood stream and could affect you.

Getting the disease is rare, but it is fatal. Children are given tetanus shots, and one is recommended every 5-7 years afterwards. Not all cuts and animal bites will give you the illness, but with tetanus, it's better safe than sorry.. because it can kill or maim.

Answer 4

A tetanus shot is a vaccine just like any other you get. Tetanus dies if it is exposed to oxygen, so for scratches and superficial injuries you don't need one, but for any deep, puncture injury (ie a nail or cat bite) bacteria could be introduced deep enough into your skin so that you could become infected. Also, did you get stitches? They really like to give tetanus shots with stitches because they're creating more puncture wounds with something metal. Metal things have the greatest risk of transferring tetanus (not sure why) but any puncture wound could do it.

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What exactly is a tetnus shot?
And why do you need a tetnus shot after being bit by a cat? I only knew about tetnus shots and like rusty nails...

Answer 6

"Tetanus is a medical term indicating a prolonged contraction of striated muscle. If the condition is caused by exposure to certain bacteria, a serious and often fatal disease may result. Tetanus is the primary symptom caused by the neurotoxin tetanospasmin which is produced by the Gram-positive, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. Infection usually originates from a contaminated wound, often a cut or deep puncture wound. Common symptoms are muscle spasms in the jaw (hence the common name lockjaw), followed by difficulty swallowing and general muscle stiffness in other parts of the body. Infection can be prevented by proper immunization, as well as by post-exposure prophylaxis." from wikipedia


Why after a cat bite? i have no idea - it doesn't seem to be standard. It is possible they gave you the tetanus shot because it had been long enough since your last one.

Answer 7

Tetanus is a common bacteria that when in your bloodstream can cause lockjaw and death.

Once the bacteria are in the body, they produce a neurotoxin (a protein that acts as a poison to the body's nervous system) known as tetanospasmin that causes muscle spasms. The toxin first affects nerves controlling the muscles near the wound. It can also travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream and lymph system. As it circulates more widely, the toxin interferes with the normal activity of nerves throughout the body, leading to generalized muscle spasms. Without treatment, tetanus can be fatal.

Children typically receive a series of four doses of DTaP vaccine before 2 years of age, followed by a booster dose at 4 to 6 years of age. After that, a tetanus and diphtheria booster (Td) is recommended at 11 to 12 years of age, and then every 10 years through adulthood. As is the case with all immunization schedules, there are important exceptions and special circumstances.

Answer 8

a tetanus shot is an injection to prevent you from getting tetanus from an infected object eg a rusty nail , a cats saliva, a dog bite etc.tetanus , once known as ''lockjaw ''was a sreious illness and the patient was unable to stand the slightest noise .it was called lockjaw because the jaws locked up and the teeth were clenched .

Answer 9

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The shot itself didn't hurt at all. The next day it felt like I got punched in the arm. That's exactly what the nurse told me would happen too. She said it's not gonna hurt when I give you the shot, but tomorrow, it's gonna feel like I punched you in the arm. Good luck. It's really not that bad. :)

Answer 10

To use the vernacular, tetanus is "Lock jaw." If the doctor says you need it for a cat bite, then it is so! The shot is painful, but it is better than the consequences. Cat bites can be nasty because they harbor more bacteria in their mouths than dogs.