About the Treatment Method
Protection Period and Pregnancy Application
Contrary to popular belief, tetanus is not only transmitted from a rusty nail. A splinter stuck in your hand while working in the garden (in the soil), a glass cut, a cat or dog scratch, or even any minor scratch occurring in an unclean environment is sufficient for the bacteria to enter.
If more than 5 to 10 years have passed since your last tetanus vaccine, or if you do not remember your vaccination history, you must go to the emergency room or family physician and get a "tetanus vaccine (and sometimes tetanus serum)" within the first 24 hours, depending on the type of injury (dirty or deep wounds).
Expectant mothers are routinely recommended to get a tetanus vaccine generally between the 20th and 24th weeks of pregnancy. Its purpose is to prevent "neonatal tetanus (umbilical cord infection)" that may arise from non-sterile conditions during birth and to protect the baby in the first months after birth by passing the antibodies formed in the mother's body to the baby through the placenta.
The information on this page is for general health advice. Please consult specialized physicians for personalized treatment or advice.
