Hello, I am wondering if I may have a mild form of tetanus. I impaled the sole of my foot about 3 weeks ago on a metal belt-buckle tine ( about 1/4 in in diameter and 3/4 in long). There was no bleeding so I initially didn t think it pierced the skin although I could feel and hear it enter, like an awl through leather. After looking at the wound under a microscope light I could see a clear + shaped entry. It produced a rather large bruise on the top of my foot for a week or so but that was it. I didn t think anything of it at the time but since have had weird symptoms including
Hello. Tetanus is a fatal disease without life support caused by a bacterial toxin. Initially toxin is formed near wound area and later toxin spreads to whole body. Features are irritability, restlessness, locked jaw, fever, initial muscle spasm in the throat and jaw later spread to whole body including respiratory muscles.  So until toxin is removed using antitoxins patient has to b put on respiratory support.  According to your description difficulty of swallowing is only one episode. Tetanus is a progressive disease, so you can't have only one episode of muscle spasm. Fever and chills are may be due to the throat infection. Some of your symptoms are related with anxiousness too.  Anyway it is better to get your blood tests done as soon as possible complaining your worries to the doctor. Hope this helps. Thank you.