The bacteria produce a poison (tetanus toxin) which affects nerves and muscles. After having introduced the tetanus vaccine into children's vaccination programme in most countries of the world the disease has become rare.
Contaminated sores are the most common cause for the disease and after infection the symptoms start after three to fourteen days with muscle contractions, spasm in the neck and pain in the muscles around the neck, shoulders and thigh. The disease is serious and a full recovery depends whether the treatment is started quickly or not. The disease requires specialist treatment.
The disease can be avoided completely through vaccination. After completion of a children's vaccination programme revaccination is recommended every tenth years.
It is also recommendable to cleanse sores contaminated by soil, etc.