Tetanus

Question: How serious is tetanus? And what are ways to get through it? I had an injury with a reasonable risk of tetanus and I decided to wait and see what happened. I think I am developing symptoms now and I read "There is no "cure" for tetanus once a person develops symptoms, just supportive treatment and management of complications." If this is true and I have already started developing symptoms what are my chances of survival? I read it has a high mortality rate and now I am worried. Also what could I experience and is there a recovery period?

Answer: When is the last time you had your tetanus booster? Is there any particular reason you didn't get the shot after you got the cut? Please provide more details, what are the symptoms you are developing?

Question: How long should a tetanus shot make your arm sore? I got tetanus shot Saturday and my arm is incredibly sore I can't lay on it or move it a whole lot is this normal? If so how long should I expect to feel like this. Thanks.

Answer: If you bumped it or were really active after getting it that could be why. I don't know much about the shot but when I had my last one senior year I had a soccer game the same day. Some people can run a marathon after the shot others feel sick with no activity whatsoever. When I was little and had one I didn't do much of anything and my arm ached. That last time I was fine for the soccer game even after being knocked all over the place then the next day just the spot where I got the shot was a little sore. If the pain lasts much longer I would call the doctor and see what he or she thinks before rushing in to emergency. Hope everything turns out normal.

Question: How often should a person get a tetanus shot? I don't recall when I took my last tetanus shot. Should I be concerned? How often do people die from tetanus in the USA?

Answer: Adults should be given a routine booster dose of Td every 10 years. http://vaccineinformation.com/tetanus/qandavax.asp

Question: How long does a tetanus shot last in a horse? If a tetanus shot lasts 10 years in a human why doesn't it last that long in a horse?? Or does it and the vets tell you different?

Answer: this is a guess hopefully its right around 3 years

Question: How much does it cost for a Tetanus shot for a horse? I was just wondering how much (approx.) it would cost for a tetanus shot for a horse. I have both miniatures and regular sized horses. Thanks for the answers! I thought it was alot more expensive. Does Valley Vet ship to canada or is there a similar sort website to get the vaccinations in Canada?

Answer: The shot itself costs about $5. http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e06fa5-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5 I personally prefer the combo shot - gives them almost all the vaccines they need in one shot. Costs about $20 http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_product.html?PGGUID=2e87c20b-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5&pgguid=2e87c20b-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5 If you can do it yourself, do it. If not, you;re going to have to pay a vet to do it, so you'll have to pay vet fees as well I'm 99% sure minis get the same dose as a big horse. I know foals and small ponies get the same dose as a horse. p.s.- make sure you get tetanus toxoid, not tetanus antitoxin. SOOOO not the same thing!

Question: How to prevent tetanus without the injection? Basically i have a massive phobia of needles. But i know how important protecting myself can be. So i wondered if there was anything i could do to reduce my chances of developing tetanus.

Answer: Without the vaccine, you make yourself vulnerable. There is really no other preventive measure. See more on tetanus: http://www.examiner.com/x-7707-Tampa-Disease-Prevention-Examiner~y2009m5d23-Vaccine-preventable-diseases-tetanus

Question: How long does the pain associated with a tetanus shot last? I had to get a tetanus shot on Thursday and was just wondering how long my arm is going to hurt like it does. It's quite sore to the touch and still seems swollen. Thanks.

Answer: Usually it's tender for 2-3 days. Place a warm towel near the area you had the shot. Also, take some Tylenol or Motrin to help alleviate some of the pain. I hate those TD shots, I actually hate needles so any shot is scary to me.

Question: What does the onset of tetanus indicate about the amount of free calcium in the sarcoplasm? What does the onset of tetanus indicate about the amount of free calcium in the sarcoplasm?

Answer: A tetanic (related to tetanus, NOT the ship!) contraction is a maximal one, caused by repeated stimulation. The amount of tension able to be developed by an individual muscle is directly related to the amount of calcium present in the myoplasm, because it is the calcium that allows the interaction of actin and myosin. Thus, in a maximal contraction, you would see the most calcium.

Question: How can I keep a tetanus shot from hurting so bad? Tetanus shots hurt like a b**ch. How can I keep it from hurting so much. I need to go and get one.

Answer: Take 1 or 2 Tylenol 30-45 mins before your appt. That will help with the initial pain from the injection. After another 4-6 hours take 1 or 2 more. That should help with the after-effects of the medication. Also, keep moving your arm after the injection is given. You should be fine.

Question: How long should an arm ache after a tetanus shot? I got a tetanus shot on Monday. It is now Wednesday, and my arm still hurts to move or touch. I'm concerned because with every other innoculation I've had, my arm has recovered within a day. Is this normal for a tetanus shot, or should I be worried? How long should I let my arm ache for before I visit a doctor?

Answer: The pain should ease off in about 3-4 days max. If not, see your doctor.

Question: tetanus??? i just gave my mare and foal their tetanus needles, for horses 3 months and over they can have it again in 2 weeks because its a tetanus and strangles what about for the foal? how long until he should have his next one?

Answer: How old is the foal? You usually give it at around 5 months and then again at 6 months with a booster for Eastern and Western at the same time. I would wait at least a month before giving the foal another round of the same vaccination. Just saw the photos of Angus (cute) - is he the one you vaccinated? Check to see if you gave him antitoxin as that only lasts for a couple of weeks and then he would need toxoid which is the proper vaccine which then needs a booster 4 to 6 weeks later. So in their first year of life, they get tetanus antitoxin when they are born and then a few weeks later, proper tetanus toxoid vaccine followed by another booster of that about a month later. Added these details because I saw the photo of the foal and wasn't sure then if you'd given antitoxin or toxoid. I would imagine though that if it was for foals over 3 months, it's toxoid so you need to wait 4 to 6 weeks for the next shot and that will give him the best immunity - hope that all makes sense.