If you have trouble swallowing or have muscle spasms in the facial muscles, go to the Emergency Department for treatment. In localized tetanus, pain, cramps, or muscle spasms occur at or near a recent skin injury. The disease is more serious when the symptoms come on quickly. Older people and very young children tend to have more severe cases. Intensive medical care improves the prognosis in severe cases.
Death is usually due to respiratory failure or disturbance of heart rhythm.
All partially immunized as well as unimmunized adults should receive a tetanus vaccination. The third dose is given 6 months after the second. Booster doses are required every 10 years after that. In children, the immunization schedule calls for 5 doses. This series is completed with a final dose between 4-6 years.