tetanus

Everyday

1. Tetanus is a serious illness caused by germs that live in soil and dust and can get into the body through a cut or wound; it makes muscles stiff and tight, especially in the jaw. tree →
2. A tetanus jab is an injection (vaccine) that protects you from this illness. tree →

In the lessons

In health and science lessons, tetanus shows why vaccines matter: most children get tetanus jabs when they are little. In first aid, deep cuts from dirty or rusty objects, garden tools or animal bites should be cleaned well, and an adult should check if a tetanus jab is needed. An old name for tetanus is «lockjaw».

Examples

• Tetanus germs live in soil. tree →
• I had a tetanus jab at the doctor's. tree →
• Clean any cut you get in the garden. tree →
• After stepping on a nail, he needed a tetanus booster. tree →
• Tetanus makes the jaw muscles very tight. tree →
• Vaccines protect children from tetanus. tree →
• Tetanus used to be called lockjaw. tree →
• Tell an adult if you cut yourself on something dirty. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Myth: tetanus does not come from rust itself; the germs are in dirt, and rusty objects are often dirty and make deep cuts. Pronounced «TET-uh-nus».