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Tétano

Evidence last reviewed: 15 Feb 2026
Topic last updated: 25 Feb 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • lesão prévia propensa a tétano
  • estado da imunização antitetânica
  • trismo (mandíbula travada)
  • dorsalgia
  • rigidez/aumento do tônus muscular
  • disfagia
  • espasmos
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • usuários de drogas injetáveis
  • dificuldade respiratória
  • pressão arterial, frequência de pulso e temperatura instáveis
  • sudorese
Full details

Risk factors

  • imunização antitetânica incompleta
  • lesão
  • práticas obstétricas assépticas
  • usuários de drogas injetáveis
  • injeção intramuscular sem assepsia
  • cirurgia abdominal
  • acupuntura, piercing de orelha, pedicuro, palitos de dente
  • tumores necróticos
  • infecção da orelha média
Full details

Diagnostic tests

Tests to consider

  • diagnóstico clínico
  • toxina sérica
  • detecção do Clostridium tetani a partir do tecido da ferida ou swab
  • anticorpos séricos antitoxina
  • esporos em amostras de drogas ou objetos relacionados a esta prática
  • punção lombar
  • eletroencefalograma
  • eletromiografia
Full details

Treatment algorithm

INITIAL

ferida limpa e pequena

ferida propensa a tétano

ACUTE

com tétano clínico

Contributors

Authors

Russell W. Steele, MD

Clinical Professor of Pediatrics

Tulane University School of Medicine

New Orleans

LA

Disclosures

RWS declares that he has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Russell W. Steele would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Christopher M. Parry, Dr Nicholas J. Beeching, Dr Lucy E. Cottle, and Professor Enitan D. Carrol, the previous contributors to this topic.

Peer reviewers

Louise Thwaites, BSc, MBBS, MD

Senior Clinical Research Fellow

Oxford University Clinical Research Unit

Hospital for Tropical Diseases

Ho Chi Minh City

Vietnam

Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health

Oxford University

Oxford, UK

Divulgaciones

LT is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Katrina Kretsinger, MD, MA

Commander

U.S. Public Health Service

Medical Epidemiologist

HIV Vaccine Team

Epidemiology Branch

Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Atlanta, GA

Divulgaciones

KK declares that she has no competing interests.

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Referencias

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Artículos principales

UK Health Security Agency. Tetanus: the green book, chapter 30. Jun 2022 [internet publication].Texto completo

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child and adolescent immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2025. Nov 2024 [internet publication].Texto completo

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2025. Nov 2024 [internet publication].Texto completo

Havers FP, Moro PL, Hunter P, et al. Use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccines: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices - United States, 2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020 Jan 24;69(3):77-83.Texto completo  Resumen

Tiwari TSP, Moro PL, Acosta AM. Tetanus. In: Hall E, Wodi AP, Hamborsky J, et al, eds. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiology and vaccine-preventable diseases. 14th ed. Washington, D.C.: Public Health Foundation; 2021.Texto completo

Artículos de referencia

Una lista completa de las fuentes a las que se hace referencia en este tema está disponible para los usuarios con acceso a todo BMJ Best Practice.
  • Tétano images
  • Diferenciales

    • Distonias induzidas por medicamentos, por exemplo, fenotiazinas
    • Intoxicação por estricnina
    • Síndrome neuroléptica maligna
    Más Diferenciales
  • Guías de práctica clínica

    • Child and adolescent immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2025
    • Adult immunization schedule by age: recommendations for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2025
    Más Guías de práctica clínica
  • Folletos para el paciente

    Vacina DTP (difteria, tétano, poliomielite)

    Vacina DTPa (difteria, tétano, poliomielite e coqueluche)

    Más Folletos para el paciente
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