# Do I need a tetnus shot? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-tetnus-shot/191452 "2003-07-28T16:07:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-tetnus-shot/191452/1 "2003-07-28T16:07:34Z")
I was at my parents house this weekend and we tore apart my parents sundeck. I was scratched and poked with 3-4 rusty nails. Do I need a tetnus shot? What happens if I don’t get one? How long will I know if I need one? MtM ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-tetnus-shot/191452/2 "2003-07-28T16:21:12Z")
A light scratch is probably nothing to worry about, as long as it bled fairly freely. Being “poked” is no big deal, either… but a deep puncture, on the other hand, could be trouble; this is your typical “rusty nail” wound. Tetanus is anaerobic; if it gets deep enough into your flesh, where oxygen can’t get to it, it’s in a great position to reproduce and spread out. If you have contracted tetanus, and you do NOT get a tetanus shot, you are in for some trouble. Tetanus, or “lockjaw,” causes serious muscle spasms, including a tendency for the jaws to lock shut, hence the name. Muscle spasms and contractions are INVOLUNTARY, which means you are going to be one sore sick jerky puppy for a while. If someone finds you, twitching and thrashing, likely they will call the hospital and you will spend some time strapped to a bed. Muscle contractions are so severe, broken bones are not unknown. They’ll likely have to feed you on a liquid diet. It’s usually not FATAL, though, so after a few extremely painful and uncomfortable weeks, you’ll be okay. Assuming you didn’t break any bones or crush your teeth or something, that is. If you’re worried, go and get a tetanus shot NOW. It takes at least two or three weeks to show symptoms, and once you start twitchin’ and dancin’, it’s too late. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-tetnus-shot/191452/3 "2003-07-28T16:26:30Z")
I wouldn’t say “too late”… according to this information Tetanus is only fatal 11% of the time. It may require hospitalization and is certainly unpleasant. If you’ve been boosted in the past 10 years, you’re also pretty much okay. [http://www.nfid.org/factsheets/tetanusadult.html](http://www.nfid.org/factsheets/tetanusadult.html) I’m getting by booster on Thursday. C’mon, all the cool kids are doing it! ---
**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-tetnus-shot/191452/4 "2003-07-28T17:42:59Z")
The rule is every 10 years, but a booster earlier if a “tetanus prone wound” occurs after 6 years from previous booster. A scratch or poke is not a tetanus prone wound, a deep puncture would is. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-tetnus-shot/191452/5 "2003-07-28T18:34:04Z")
Tetanus shots are also recommended for folks with diabetes, since an injury can happen to the foot and not be noticed. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-tetnus-shot/191452/6 "2003-07-28T19:10:28Z")
My doctor made me get another one and it had only been \*\*five \*\* years since my last booster, in the case of a puncture wound. “Just to be on the safe side”, but those SOB’s hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-tetnus-shot/191452/7 "2003-07-28T19:18:48Z")
Tetanus shots no longer hurt, why not get one? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2003, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-need-a-tetnus-shot/191452/8 "2003-07-28T20:10:01Z")
And it’s not just rusty nails that you shoudl worry about. Any deep puncture is a problem. I had some very bad glass cuts in my hand from breaking a window (took 46 stitches to close, because the doc was being very careful for cosmetic reasons- still looks icky though…) and I had to have a tetanus booster. Get one, just to be on the safe side.