# Why should you get a tetanus shot every 5-10 years? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2001, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-you-get-a-tetanus-shot-every-5-10-years/70693 "2001-06-30T03:42:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-you-get-a-tetanus-shot-every-5-10-years/70693/21 "2001-07-05T00:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Billy Rubin \* > \*\*I sliced my right knuckles open on a machine in 1993. I was in Canada. The local “hospital” told me i needed two shots, because it was a Japanese machine and might have a different strain of Tetanus. Was he just yanking my chain? > > Qag, is it possible to have too many shots? I get cut on rusty metal about once or five times a day. I’d like to get shots every year if it’s not dangerous, but I don’t know if it’s a bad idea.b. \*\* Too many shots is a waste of resources. The vaccine is scarce now and being reserved for people with significant trauma. every 5 years is fine AFAIAC ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-you-get-a-tetanus-shot-every-5-10-years/70693/22 "2001-07-05T00:34:32Z")
I am not aware of the need for a second type of tetanus immunization, but I doubt the doc was yanking your chain. There are more fun things to do to patients than giving them unnecessary shots. (Kidding! Kidding!) ---
**Author:** ![choosybeggar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@choosybeggar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choosybeggar)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-you-get-a-tetanus-shot-every-5-10-years/70693/23 "2001-07-05T03:37:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qis \* > \*\*You say its really bad adn rare nowadayss? > erm… wht does it do? \*\* From [The pediatric critical care webpage:](http://pedsccm.wustl.edu/RARE/Tetanus.html) > [@](#): > > Tetanus is an exotoxin-mediated disease. It is caused by Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic, gram positive, spore forming rod. The organism produces two exotoxins; hemolysin, and tetanospasmin, the later is a neurotoxin that is responsible for the clinical manifestation of tetanus disease. Tetanospasmin spreads to the central nervous system and binds to gangliosides. There it blocks the release of neurotransmitter from the presynaptic inhibitory neuron. The loss of inhibitory impulses results in the cardinal clinical manifestations of reflex irritability and autonomic hyperactivity. The most common presenting complaints are those of generalized tetanus. After an incubation period of 3 days to 3 weeks, patients complain of dysphagia[sup]1[/sup] and stiffness in the jaw, abdomen, or back. As the disease progresses, rigidity and trismus[sup]2[/sup] occurs. Generalized rigidity of facial muscles causes the characteristic expression of risus sardonicus[sup]3[/sup]. Reflex spasms develop within 1 to 4 days of the first symptoms. Spasm may be precipitated by minimal stimuli such as noise, light, or touch and last from seconds to minutes. They can be painful or dangerous, causing apnea[sup]4[/sup], fractures or rhabdomyolysis[sup]5[/sup]. [sup]1[/sup]Difficulty swallowing [sup]2[/sup]Spasmodic contraction of the masseter muscle resulting in forceful jaw closure. AKA lockjaw. [sup]3[/sup]Abnormal grinning expression due to facial muscle spasm. [sup]4[/sup]Cessation of breathing [sup]5[/sup]Skeletal muscle breakdown > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Billy Rubin_ > \*\*I sliced my right knuckles open on a machine in 1993. I was in Canada. The local “hospital” told me i needed two shots, because it was a Japanese machine and might have a different strain of Tetanus. Was he just yanking my chain? \*\* Only one type of toxin exists (AFAIK) and is used for vaccination (in an inactived form) worldwide. Can’t imagine what the doc was thinking. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-you-get-a-tetanus-shot-every-5-10-years/70693.md?page=1)