Report within 24 hours of Diagnosis to the Local Health Department.
Tetanus is a disease caused by toxin-producing bacteria. Before the vaccine was available, tetanus was a common childhood illness. Also known as lockjaw, tetanus is not spread from person to person. The tetanus bacteria enter the body through a cut, wound or scratch. Symptoms can take up to three weeks to appear and may include muscle spasms, locking of the jaw, and seizures.
