How Long Does A Tetanus Shot Last
How long does a tetanus shot last?
Tetanus is a rare infection which is caused by a bacteria known as Clostridium Tetani. This bacteria creeps in through flesh wounds and can attack the nervous system of a patient. This bacteria is capable of living in almost anything from rusty metals, to soil, to house dust and even animal and human waste. Once the bacteria is inside of your body it will start to attack the nervous system, this ends up causing stiffness and muscle spasms. If you aren’t treated soon then you run the risk of even more severe complications, for example, difficulty breathing and other things, which can even lead to death. People are aware of this risk, and one of the questions that is asked the most is how long does a tetanus shot last? In this post we are going to take a little look at the answer to that.
Did you know that Tetanus vaccinations begin when you are a small child? In fact, this vaccination is often bundled with other vaccinations to help prevent other serious infections, for example, whopping cough. This course of vaccinations generally ends around the time you head to kindergarten (around four to six years old). From that point you will need to ensure that you keep up to date with your tetanus vaccinations.
After your first course of shots as a youngster you should be visiting your doctor for a shot which includes tetanus and dipheria at least once every ten years. This will ensure that you are up to date, and of course at the best chance of avoiding tetanus. However, it really isn’t as simple as that, although these 10 years should be enough to stave off most infections. You should remember that if you have the second booster shot after the age of 18, then you have pretty much lost all hope for long term protection.
If you have a serious laceration, or begin to experience symptoms related to tetanus then it is probably best to visit a hospital where they will be able to deal with you. Normally they will ask when the last time you had a tetanus shot was, if it was very recently then they may not do anything else for you. However, if it is over five years then they will most likely give you a booster shot. This should hopefully help stave off any infection. However, if you are experiencing the symptoms already then they will probably supply you with other types of medication as well as the tetanus shot. This should help treat you. Remember, medical advancements nowadays means that very few people die from tetanus, as long as they keep up to date with their shots at least!
Hopefully that has helped answer the question ‘how does a tetanus shot last?’ for you. It should be 10 years between vaccinations, although your doctor will probably decide on the best course of action for you, especially if you have become seriously injured with a deep cut. Always go to the hospital if you believe you have something which could be seriously infected.
