What is a tetanus shot really for? example,...what does it do to your body?

Question

What does a tetanus shot do for you? does it prevent anything? etc...

Answer 1

There is a very common bacterium called Clostridium tetani which exists everywhere--especially in soil.

If you have a cut, and dirt gets in it this bacteria will grow and produce a toxin, called tetanus toxin, which attacks your nervous system.

A tetanus shot makes your body produce antibodies to the toxin, so if this happens, you won't die from the infection.

Tetanus used to kill tens of thousands of people a year. The fact that you don't even really know what it is is a testament to the efficacy of the vaccine.

Answer 2

The shot is not part of the bacterium, but rather a tetanus toxoid. this is an injection of the antigenic portion of the actual toxin, but not the complete toxin so you will not get the disease. It will trick your immune system into thinking it has the disease and will force it to make antibodies against the toxin. so now with memory B cells built up your body will have achieved active artificial immunity against the disease.

Answer 3

Tetanus is given to help you body produce antibodies to clostridium tetani bacterium.  By giving a non-infectious portion of the bacteria the vaccine tricks your immune system into producing antibodies to the c. tetani organism.  You get a shot every 10 years so that your body can quickly and readily fight off infection by c. tetani which can cause "lockjaw".  You can get very severe muscle spasms with lockjaw.  

If you don't have a current vaccination against tetanus you need to get one asap. It can take a few weeks to become resistant to c. tetani. So, waiting until you are injured is not the best course.