Tetanus

Tetanus (pronounced “teh-tuh-nuhs”) is a bacterial infection that affects your nervous system. When the bacteria enter your body, they create a poison (toxin) that causes painful muscle contractions. Tetanus is commonly called lockjaw because it causes your neck and jaw muscles to lock up. A vaccine can prevent tetanus.

Who does tetanus affect?

Anyone can get tetanus, but the disease is more common in developing countries that don’t have widespread vaccination programs in place. In these countries, tetanus is typically seen in newborn babies and their unvaccinated birth parents. Tetanus is also more frequently seen in warm climates, on farms and among people assigned male at birth.

In the U.S., tetanus infections usually occur in people who aren’t vaccinated against the disease. Tetanus is also seen in people who are elderly with lower immunity to the disease.

How common is tetanus?

Tetanus is very rare in the U.S. About 30 cases of tetanus are reported in the U.S. each year.