Tetanus risk factors

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Michael Maddaleni, B.S.

Overview

People in developing countries are more at risk because of lack of vaccination.

Risk Factors

Tetanus may not come with precise risk factors, but there are some factors that need to be present for tetanus to be able to proliferate in the body. These include:

• Not having proper immunization. This leaves the body much more susceptible to developing tetanus than someone who has been properly vaccinated.

• Having a puncture wound that would allow tetanus spores to get into an anaerobic environment within the body. The spores can then flourish in this environment.

• Having other infective bacteria present can also put someone at an increased risk for allowing tetanus to proliferate.

• An injury that has swelled

• Having a foreign body, such as a splinter or a nail, present.

• Tissue that is injured

It also important to note that there are many different injuries that tetanus can develop from. Some of these injuries include:

• Animal bites

• Different types of dental infections

• Wounds from surgeries

• Crush injuries

• Gunshots

• Puncture wounds, such as (mentioned before) nails, splinters, piercings, etc.

• Burns

• Foot ulcers in diabetic patients that have become infected.

• Ear infections

• Compound fractures

• Injecting drugs

• Self tattooing