Tetanus how can you get

But before you get your hands dirty, ask yourself a question. When was your last tetanus shot? Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. A tetanus infection starts when spores of the Clostridium tetani bacterium enter the body through broken skin. Most people link tetanus with an injury like stepping on a rusty nail. But tetanus is everywhere: in soil, dust and animal waste. You can also get it from insect bites, animal bites, scratches or a tiny crack in the skin. Some cases come from scratches or small wounds that happen while gardening.

Top of Page. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Causes and Transmission. Minus Related Pages. No matter how minor the wound, you should act quickly to protect yourself from tetanus. Many people associate tetanus with rusty objects — like stepping on a rusty nail or cutting yourself on a sharp piece of metal. But the bacterium actually lives in soil, dust, and manure.

Any activity that brings you in contact with these substances carries a risk of tetanus infection. Your risk of tetanus infection increases if the puncture becomes dirty. The best way to lower your risk of contracting tetanus is by staying up-to-date on your tetanus vaccine, which requires a booster shot every ten years.

Everyone who has not had their tetanus vaccine is vulnerable to this condition. The number is low because an effective tetanus vaccine is given as part of the NHS childhood vaccination programme. Most people who get tetanus have either not been vaccinated against it or did not complete the entire vaccination schedule. Tetanus bacteria can survive for a long time outside the body and are commonly found in soil and the manure of animals such as horses and cows.

If the bacteria enter the body through a wound they can quickly multiply and release a toxin that affects the nerves, causing symptoms such as muscle stiffness and spasms. The symptoms of tetanus usually start around 4 to 21 days after infection.

On average, they start after around 10 days. Contact a GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit if you're concerned about a wound, particularly if:. A doctor will assess the wound and decide whether you need treatment and whether you need to go to hospital. If a doctor thinks there's a chance you could develop tetanus from a wound, but you do not yet have any symptoms, they'll make sure your wound is thoroughly cleaned.

They may also give you an injection of tetanus immunoglobulin.