Immunization against tetanus is mandatory for everyone: children and adults. It is thanks to this vaccine that millions of people are protected from such a dangerous disease.
However, the tetanus vaccine, like any other, is not without side effects. And a lump after a tetanus shot is one such example. We will talk about this problem and its solution.
When should adults and children get vaccinated?
The reason people get tetanus is because the tetanus bacillus (or Clostridium tetani in Latin) gets into the blood.
In the process of life, the microorganism begins to release many toxins that threaten a person with breathing problems, muscle cramps and nervous system disorders. For prevention purposes, all children are given a combination vaccine containing tetanus toxoid.
Types of combination vaccines include:
- tetanus toxoid (i.e., AS);
- adsorbed pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccine (abbreviated DTP);
- adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus vaccine (which means ADS);
- adsorbed diphtheria-tetanus with reduced diphtheria toxoid (abbreviation ADS-m);
- plus many other vaccines sold in pharmacies (Tetraxim, Bubo-Kok, Infanrix and so on).
There is no natural immunity to tetanus. Therefore, all children who have reached the age of three months receive their first immunization. The next two vaccinations follow with an interval of 45 days.
Revaccination takes place at 18 months of life (that is, a year after the third vaccination). The next revaccinations are given at 7 and 14 years of age. Then every decade until the end of life.
Importance of vaccination
A pathogenic bacterium, entering the human body, begins to secrete a toxin that has a detrimental effect on the central nervous system. The first sign of tetanus is spasms of the masticatory and then facial muscles. As a result, eating becomes difficult or even impossible. After some time, convulsions cover the entire body: the patient begins to arch, resting on the surface only with the back of his head and heels. If medical care is not received in a timely manner, the disease progresses: attacks are easily provoked, blood circulation worsens, and asphyxia appears. A natural consequence of these conditions can be death.
The entry point for the causative agent of tetanus is any damage to the skin and mucous membrane - from small scratches to extensive wounds, in newborns - the umbilical cord remnant that has not been properly treated.
The disease most often occurs in children 3-7 years old, since it is at this age that they are most mobile and prone to various injuries. But despite the statistics, adults can also be infected. The high risk of infection is explained by the fact that there is no natural immunity against the disease. Even after its successful treatment, it only works for a short period of time.
Only a tetanus vaccine can provide reliable protection. Both children and adults should receive it regularly according to established standards.
Why might a lump form under the shoulder blade/shoulder after a tetanus shot?
Each person is individual and tolerates the vaccine differently.
Although it is very rare for a tetanus shot to cause complications, some people may experience a lump after the shot. The swelling is formed due to the vaccine toxoid injected under the skin, which is adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide. Thanks to it, viral cells remain in the body for a long time, creating the necessary immune response.
Therefore, it is very important to inject the vaccine into the area where muscle tissue is best developed. It is in such places that the absorption of the drug components occurs most quickly. For children who have not reached the age of one and a half years, the most suitable place for injection is the thigh.
Then the vaccine is placed in the shoulder area or under the shoulder blade. The final decision on the injection site is made by the examining physician. As already mentioned, the muscle is considered the most optimal area for administering a tetanus shot.
But if the drug is not injected deeply enough, but only under the skin, it penetrates into the blood too slowly. This is the main reason for the formation of a lump at the injection site. The vaccine accumulates in the puncture area and takes longer than usual to dissolve.
The lump may be painful, but it does not pose any health hazard. You just need to wait for it to completely disappear (the process takes no more than two months).
Contraindications
Temporary or permanent withdrawal is granted solely for health reasons. It is a mistake to believe that it is associated with the risk of contracting a fatal disease - the vaccine is safe in this regard.
Vaccination is prohibited under the following conditions:
- pregnancy;
- acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections, including those suffered less than 30 days before vaccination;
- disturbances in the functioning of the immune system;
- chronic diseases in the acute stage;
- intolerance to any component of the vaccine.
After an individual consultation with a doctor, this list can be expanded.
What should I do if, after a tetanus shot, the injection site hurts, is swollen and red?
The presence of unpleasant sensations after a tetanus vaccination is caused by such reasons as:
- aluminum hydroxide in the vaccine . This substance is designed to hold the toxoid at the injection site, ensuring its gradual absorption into the blood. Despite its harmlessness, aluminum hydroxide can cause unpleasant reactions at the vaccination site;
- anti-pertussis component . Included in complex tetanus vaccines. It causes adverse reactions in few cases, since it carries weakened but still living whooping cough bacteria;
- improper storage and transportation of vaccines;
- injection of the vaccine into the subcutaneous fatty tissue . If for one reason or another the injection was not given in the muscle area, then there is a high probability of compaction, redness or swelling. Fortunately, they all go away with time.
Swelling with a diameter of less than 8 centimeters is considered normal, and induration is up to 5 centimeters. Exceeding these standards is a reason to consult a doctor. In general, pain in the arm area after a tetanus vaccination is the most common reaction of the body. It is normal and should not cause any concern.
The most common question from patients suffering from pain at the vaccination site is how long can these unwanted symptoms last? If all immunization rules have been followed, the pain should go away within a couple of days after the procedure.
You can treat a bump in children with Troxevasin ointment.
But if the vaccine gets under the skin and forms a lump, then the unpleasant sensations can last for months. Compresses and non-aspirin painkillers will help here.
You can also recommend absorbable ointments for children (this could be Troxevasin or Children's Rescuer). A single dose of Nurofen will not do any harm. But only a pediatrician will be able to select the most suitable means for effective and rapid resorption of the tumor.
Adults are also recommended to use ointments. Anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, Nise or Ibuprofen) can cope with unpleasant sensations after vaccination.
There should be no reason to worry if there is pain at the injection site. All unpleasant symptoms will certainly pass after some time.
What not to do
You should not visit shops or other crowded places immediately after the injection. It is better not to leave the medical facility for half an hour so that doctors can provide emergency assistance in case of an allergic reaction.
After the procedure, it is important to follow the following rules.
- Abstain from alcohol for at least three days.
- Do not visit baths, saunas and steam rooms, avoid baths using oils and salts.
- Eliminate sports from your schedule, it is especially important not to resort to strength training (from 3 to 5 days).
- If your overall health allows, you can take leisurely walks in the fresh air. This also applies to children with whom you can walk, focusing on the child’s condition.
- Despite the popular belief that the injection cannot be categorically wet, a light shower is quite acceptable, but without rubbing the injection site with a washcloth.
- Eliminate fatty foods from your daily diet for several days, replacing them with light diet foods and plenty of warm drinks.
Possible complications of vaccination
If there are no serious contraindications for vaccination, then tetanus vaccination does not lead to serious complications, but if they exist, getting vaccinated is simply dangerous. Sometimes the reasons for not getting vaccinated are so serious that you can’t get vaccinated under any circumstances. Absolute contraindications are:
- severe allergy to vaccine components;
- immunodeficiency.
Relative contraindications only delay the procedure, these include:
- acute respiratory or infectious disease accompanied by elevated temperature;
- exacerbation of chronic pathologies;
- recovery period after suffering a serious illness;
- recovery period after courses of radiation and chemotherapy;
- premature infants with insufficient body weight are not vaccinated until their condition normalizes;
- pregnancy and lactation period.
Sometimes it happens that the patient has contraindications. This could be, for example, a nonspecific allergy or mild malaise. Such conditions do not lead to an increased risk of complications, but, nevertheless, the pediatrician gives medical advice. This leaves the child defenseless against a dangerous infection. The approach to deciding on admission to the procedure should be flexible. For example, if a patient had an acute reaction to DPT, the vaccine may be replaced with a less reactive DPT.
It is important to understand that a prolonged manifestation of a negative reaction to the vaccine indicates the development of complications:
- the temperature rises above 39 °C. This may be a sign of developing inflammation;
- signs of laryngitis, bronchitis and pharyngitis appear;
- pain lasts longer than 5-7 days;
- the redness has a large area (more than 8 cm), and the diameter of the bump exceeds 5 cm.
Vaccination in adults can cause seizures, heart failure, arthritis, confusion and brain problems, and anaphylactic shock. Such reactions are very rare, since we are talking about revaccination, and all possible negative manifestations in a particular person are already known. More often, complications occur in children, so parents should monitor the behavior and well-being of the child after the injection.
When to see a doctor
Although complications from tetanus vaccination are extremely rare, death is still reported in 4% of cases. Therefore, if symptoms deviate from the norm, you should seek medical help. If a person who has received a tetanus shot complains of severe headaches, a high fever, extensive swelling and redness at the injection site, convulsions and confusion, we can already assume the development of complications. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor, since severe reactions, firstly, can lead to unpredictable consequences at the present time, and secondly, are a reason to avoid tetanus vaccinations in the future.
What should you do if a tumor forms on your back/arm and does not go away for several days?
Most people get a tetanus shot without serious complications. However, there may be many side effects and complications for some people.
Tetanus toxoid
As already mentioned, the appearance of a tumor at the site of vaccination is nothing more than the result of the vaccine getting under the skin. Despite the fact that the resorption process may take months, this is not a cause for concern and does not require intervention.
Only if negative symptoms last longer than expected should you consult a doctor. More attention should be paid to other human conditions that may be caused by the tetanus vaccine.
The most dangerous complications include:
- convulsions;
- severe allergic reactions;
- loss of consciousness;
- vomiting;
- asthma;
- diarrhea;
- and circulatory disorders.
The above side effects are a serious cause for concern and require prompt medical intervention. Adults generally respond better to tetanus immunization than children. Each child’s reaction is individual and if after vaccination the injection area is swollen and painful, then this is normal.
In addition, the child may experience:
- migraine;
- lack of appetite;
- tearfulness;
- headache;
- elevated temperature.
Severe symptoms that require immediate attention include:
- convulsions;
- severe runny nose;
- obvious skin reactions;
- changes in myocardial function;
- vomiting and diarrhea.
But such complications in children are quite rare. Some people worry that getting the bud wet after grafting can cause a lot of problems. In fact, the injection site is allowed to be wetted with water.
The only thing you really shouldn't do after a tetanus vaccine is:
- drink alcohol within a week after immunization;
- visit saunas or steam baths within five days after vaccination;
- rub the injection site, apply cosmetics there;
- take heavy physical activity for the above period.
If all rules and recommendations are followed, a person should not have problems or complications after vaccination.
How to relieve pain?
If the tetanus injection site is swollen and painful, it is worth taking some measures that will quickly ease the pain, relieve swelling and alleviate the general condition. Taking medications such as Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen will help reduce pain and possible fever. The medicine is taken for several days, 1-2 tablets throughout the day.
An ice compress applied to the injection site will help get rid of swelling and reduce pain. Ice helps relieve inflammation and swelling. It is recommended to do such procedures for 10-15 minutes (it is important to avoid hypothermia) several times a day for the first couple of days after vaccination.
If the pain remains 2 days after the injection, then it is better to apply dry heat. A good effect is obtained by applying a heating pad or cloth treated in warm water.
You can speed up the absorption processes of the active components of the vaccine and, therefore, improve your well-being, using ointments and gels that have absorbable, anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory properties. The product is rubbed into the swollen area of skin with light, massaging movements 2-3 times throughout the day.
Video on the topic
An allergist-immunologist explains why the injection site swells and hurts after vaccination:
Tetanus vaccination is the simplest and most proven way to protect a person from this disease. Although this vaccine is not without side effects, there is always the opportunity to purchase the necessary product that can alleviate the patient’s condition after immunization.
The appearance of a lump after vaccination is a small price to pay for the risk of contracting tetanus. Especially considering that the compaction always goes away on its own.
When to see a doctor?
Dangerous complications that rarely occur after the administration of tetanus vaccine include the development of severe allergic reactions and Quincke's edema. The following symptoms indicate this:
- convulsive syndrome;
- difficulty breathing;
- dizziness;
- tachycardia;
- hoarseness in the voice.
If, in addition to pain and swelling, some of the above symptoms appear after a tetanus injection, you should immediately seek medical help.
