Ask a doctor on the topic of General medicine

Tetanus or imagination?

October 2, 2021 | 35,00 EUR | answered by Christian Welsch

Hello, in advance I have to say that I suffer from an anxiety disorder (hypochondria). I am a 22-year-old male and I cut my finger in a bar two nights ago (on the floor and I have no idea on what). The next day I happened to be at the doctor's office who cleaned the wound and also renewed my tetanus vaccination yesterday (the last one was in 2012). Now since yesterday evening I have neck pain and also slight jaw pain... I am studying medicine and I know that these are signs of tetanus. I can't get the thought out of my head. How likely is it to have tetanus and should I go to the hospital just to check? Are these possible side effects or am I imagining them?

Christian Welsch

Dear inquirer, Tetanus infections are extremely rare diseases and usually require large wound areas and a lot of soil to be introduced into the wound. So, it is more likely to happen when you accidentally injure yourself with a rake while gardening. In case of an outbreak, I would expect cramps and contractures. It is also believed that a complete vaccination protection can last up to 20 years. If you are unsure, it is advisable to get examined and potentially have the antibodies (tetagam) injected. Regards, welsch