Tetanus is a serious condition caused by bacterial toxin that affects your nervous system.leading to painful muscle contractions specially the jaw and neck muscles .
Most cases occur in people who were never vaccinated against the condition or didn't complete the entire vaccination schedule.

Tetanus is caused by spores of bacteria called Clostridium tetani. These spores can survive for a long time outside the body, and are commonly found in the soil and the feces of animals .
If they enter the body through a deep cut  wound, the bacteria can quickly multiply and release a toxin that affects the nerves, causing symptoms such as muscle stiffness and spasms.
The bacteria can cause tetanus if they get into the body through:
• cuts and scrapes
• tears or splits in the skin
• burns
• animal bites
• body piercings, tattoos and injections
• injection of contaminated drugs
Deep wounds containing dirt or foreign objects are most likely to lead to tetanus, but the condition can occur after a minor injury you didn't notice at the time.
Tetanus cannot be spread from person to person.

The symptoms of tetanus usually develop within 4 to 21 days after infection. On average, they start after around 10 days.
The main symptoms include:
• stiffness in your jaw muscles (lockjaw) – this can make it difficult to open your mouth
• painful muscle spasms – these can make swallowing and breathing difficult
• a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
• sweating
• a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
Left untreated, the symptoms can continue to get worse over the following hours and days. In some cases, life-threatening problems such as suffocation or a cardiac arrest (where the heart stops beating) can occur.

If your doctor thinks you could develop tetanus but you haven't had any symptoms yet, they will clean any wounds you have and give you an injection of tetanus immunoglobulin. They may also give you a dose of the tetanus vaccine if you haven't been fully vaccinated in the past.
Tetanus immunoglobulin is a medication that contains antibodies that kill the tetanus bacteria. It offers immediate but short-term protection from tetanus.
If you develop symptoms of tetanus, you'll usually need to be admitted to a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). Treatments you may have include:
• tetanus immunoglobulin and antibiotics
• a procedure to remove any dead tissue or foreign material, such as dirt, from the wound
• medication to relieve muscle stiffness and spasms, such as muscle relaxants and sedatives
• breathing support using a ventilator (a machine that helps you breathe)
• nutrients through a tube connected to the stomach or a drip into a vein

The DTaP vaccine is a series of five shots, typically given in the arm or thigh to children at ages:

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 15 to 18 months
• 4 to 6 years

It's recommended that adolescents get a dose of Tdap, preferably between the ages of 11 and 12, and a Td booster every 10 years thereafter