Tetanus is a disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani. More specifically, it is the toxins produced by the bacteria that cause the disease. The Centers for Disease Control describe the symptoms of tetanus as muscle spasms, difficulty breathing and fever. One typical muscle spasm affects the muscles around the jaw, causing it to remain shut. This condition gives rise to the alternative name for tetanus: "lockjaw."
Diphtheria is another disease caused by bacterial toxins. Information from the CDC indicates that diphtheria causes "a thick coating in the nose, throat or airway." Severe symptoms of diphtheria include difficulty breathing, paralysis, heart problems, and even death. MedLine Plus (a service associated with the National Institutes of Health) warns that, though tetanus is not contagious, diphtheria can be spread from person to person.
Prevention
The CDC maintains that there are safe and effective vaccines to prevent tetanus and diphtheria and that "the risks from the vaccine are much smaller than the risks from the diseases if people stopped using vaccine." According to "A Parent's guide to Immunization," an article by the CDC, combination vaccines are commonly administered to children and adults. A combination vaccine that protects against diphtheria and tetanus, called DT, is available for vaccination of children younger than 7 who should not get the pertussis vaccine, possibly because of a previous bad reaction. Td is another diphtheria-tetanus vaccine, in which the lower-case "d" indicates the combination vaccine has a lower amount of diphtheria vaccine. Td is used to vaccinate children older than 7, and to boost the immunity of adults.
Because these vaccines are so commonly administered, especially to children, the incidence of diphtheria and/or tetanus cases is quite low.
Mild Side Effects
Though tetanus and diphtheria vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and effective, there are still possible side effects to vaccination, as there are with almost any medication.
Mild side effects usually occur soon after vaccination, and may include soreness or swelling at the site of vaccination.
Moderate and Severe Side Effects
Moderate and severe side effects as a result of DT or Td vaccination are possible, though quite rare. Very rarely, an allergic reaction may occur in response to the components of the vaccine, resulting in, according to the CDC, difficulty breathing, wheezing, hives, weakness, elevated heart rate and/or dizziness. This reaction usually occurs quickly, within minutes or hours after the shot is given.
Other rare severe side effects to DT or Td vaccine is a high fever (over 105 degrees F) or seizure. If either of these moderate or severe side effects occur, contact a doctor immediately and make sure to specifically communicate the symptoms of the reaction and the date and time of vaccination.
