Question
How Long Can the Tetanus Incubation Period Last?
Answer
The duration of the tetanus incubation period varies. Generally, it is between 7 to 8 days. If the patient has received preventive antitoxins, the incubation period may extend to several weeks. In rare cases, it can be as short as 1 to 2 days. Patients usually exhibit symptoms such as restlessness and agitation before the disease manifests. The first motor symptoms may include lockjaw, followed by stiffness in the neck muscles. Within a few hours, spasms can spread to other muscles. Facial muscle spasms may cause the lips to tighten or present a spasmodic ‘grimace’. Examination may reveal rigidity in the muscles of the limbs and trunk, with slight arching of the back, abdominal wall rigidity, and the lower limbs often being more severely affected than the upper limbs, frequently remaining in an extended position. As the condition progresses, a persistent state of rigidity will be accompanied by severe spasmodic pain.