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. Can...
A tetanus shot contains the tetanus toxoid which causes lockjaw, a condition which causes muscle spasms which become significantly more pronounced as the disease takes hold. These convulsions can be so severe that they can fracture the spine. Exposing the body to small, controlled amounts of this...
It is important to get tetanus shots after injuries, especially if they are caused by rusty metal objects or deep puncture wounds, caused, for example, by stray kittens. The vaccine should be given within 48 hours after the injury to successfully prevent tetanus. Most medical experts recommend ...
Wreckage containing rusty nails, wire and corroded metal, odds and ends of garbage and other jetsam and flotsam, broken clam shells and bottles, sharp stones, wood splinters, and so on, are present in abundance. Of thirty-three cases listed in abstract by the authors of the paper, nine at...
but the rust itself does not cause tetanus nor does it contain more C. tetani bacteria. The rough surface of rusty metal merely provides a prime habitat for C. tetani endospores to reside in, and the nail affords a means to puncture skin and deliver endospores deep within the body at th...
If you happen to have a wound from something rusty and you're not up to date on your tetanus vaccines, you should seek medical care immediately. Even if you are up to date, it's still a good idea to seek medical care to clean the wound and receive any preventative care necessary ...