While mild soreness and slight redness are normal within 24 to 48 hours of a tetanus injection, persistent pain and non-decreasing redness 2 to 3 days later are atypical.
Next Steps
in-person urgent care clinic or primary care physician today for a physical examination and palpation of the injection site.
check the physical label or clinic paperwork to verify the exact vaccine given, and seek immediate emergency care if the redness spreads rapidly, develops red streaks, or if they experience severe chills.
monitor and record their temperature every 4 hours using a digital thermometer to provide accurate data for the evaluating clinician.
Health Tips
Do Not Squeeze or Massage: Avoid rubbing, massaging, or squeezing the painful area on the buttock, as this can potentially worsen a localized infection or spread bacteria deeper into the tissue.
Apply a Cool Compress: Place a clean, cool, damp cloth over the injection site for 15 to 20 minutes at a time to help naturally soothe local inflammation and ease the throbbing pain.
Trace the Redness: Use a skin-safe pen to lightly draw a line around the current border of the redness to easily track whether the inflammation is expanding or shrinking over the next few hours.