Both Uses of
tetanus
in
A Prayer for Owen Meany
- It was a deep gash, about three or four inches long—not serious; but he would require some stitches to close the wound, and a tetanus shot.†
p. 434.6 *
- There'd been an automobile accident somewhere near the Maine border, so Simon rated a low priority in the emergency room; that was fine with all of us, because the longer it took for Simon to get his tetanus shot and his stitches, the longer we would be away from the deer flies and the mosquitoes and the heat.†
p. 434.9
Definition:
a bacterial infection typically contracted through a puncture wound with a dirty object -- such as a rusted nail
Tetanus is also called lockjaw because of muscle spasms that make the patient incapable of opening their jaw.
People who have had the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine and a subsequent booster shot every 10 years, are protected from tetanus. Others should get a "tetanus shot" after a puncture wound with a dirty object. The tetanus shot provides immediate, short-term protection.
People who have had the DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine and a subsequent booster shot every 10 years, are protected from tetanus. Others should get a "tetanus shot" after a puncture wound with a dirty object. The tetanus shot provides immediate, short-term protection.