What is tetanus?

Tetanus spores (micro-organisms) enter the body through a wound, even just a trivial cut, and then irreversibly bind to the central nervous system (shutting down the brain and spinal cord). Its toxins cause weakness, stiffness, cramps, difficulty in chewing and swallowing, breathing difficulties, rigid muscles, very painful muscle spasms, convulsions and commonly death (about one in 10). Protection through scheduled vaccines is close to 100 per cent. For your interest: when people receive a tetanus injection after being wounded (e.g. an adult whose tetanus immunity has probably expired), then it is a tetanus immunoglobin antibody jab (not antigens), which has a long list of possible side effects, but none perhaps as fatal as death!