What happens if a person gets tetanus?

Tetanus: Tetanus occurs in susceptible individuals (those not vaccinated) after exposure to the bacterium clostridium tetani, commonly found in soil. The most common symptoms involve muscle spasms and muscular rigidity. The muscle spasms usually start with the chewing muscles, hence the term lockjaw. Spasms may also include the throat muscles, creating difficulty swallowing, and may extend to any muscles.