26/08/2026
Tetanus is a rare but life-threatening disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. Tetanus is acquired when C tetani from soil, dust, or manure enter the body through broken skin from puncture wounds, cuts, or burns.
In the human body, C tetani grows in damaged tissue and produces tetanus toxin, which travels to the central nervous system and blocks the release of neurotransmitters in the brain and spinal cord.
From 2013 to 2023, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported 267 cases of tetanus in the US, including 13 deaths.
đź“„This JAMA Patient Page describes the signs and symptoms of , the risk factors, vaccinations for prevention, and how it is diagnosed and treated.
https://ja.ma/4gyBL8u