Tetanus why immunizations

Any skin wound — especially a deep puncture or a wound that may be contaminated with feces, soil, or saliva — should be cleaned and dressed right away. If you're not sure whether your kids have gotten their tetanus vaccinations, or if you know they're not fully immunized, call your doctor.

If it's been more than 10 years since someone in your family got a tetanus booster, see your doctor to bring immunizations up to date. If a puncture or other deep wound happens, clean the wound and call the doctor to ask about post-exposure tetanus prophylaxis. If your child develops lockjaw or muscle spasms — particularly after a wound — get medical care right away.

Reviewed by: Ryan J. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Is Tetanus? What Causes Tetanus? Tetanus is most common in: injuries that involve dead skin, such as burns , frostbite , gangrene, or crush injuries wounds contaminated with soil, saliva spit , or feces, especially if not cleaned well skin punctures from nonsterile needles, such as with drug use or self-performed tattooing or body piercing What Is Neonatal Tetanus?

Viewing discretion is advised. This fact sheet answers general questions about the booster shot that protects preteens and teens. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Vaccines for Your Children.

Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Vaccine Shot for Tetanus. Minus Related Pages. Why should my child get a tetanus shot? Protects your child from tetanus, which can be a serious disease, as well as diphtheria and whooping cough pertussis. Protects your child from painful muscle stiffness from tetanus. Keeps your child from missing school or child care, and you from missing work.

It usually starts a few hours after getting the injection and settles within a few days. Place a cold, wet cloth or ice pack where the injection was given. Leave it on for a short time. Don't rub the injection site. Tell your doctor if troublesome. Read more: After your immunisation. This is quite common for the first 1 or 2 days after receiving the injection and usually settles within a few days.

Dress lightly, with a single layer of clothing. Don't wrap your child in a blanket. Keep the room cool and use a fan. Drink plenty of fluids. The routine use of paracetamol is not recommended following vaccinations, but may be used if your child is miserable or distressed. Tell your doctor if the fever persists. Basic information for people interested in diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccination…. Vaccine recommendations and contraindications; composition, immunogenicity, and efficacy; storage and handling; administration details Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Vaccines and Preventable Diseases.