The causes of tetanus are unhygienic practices like application of cow dung on the umbilical stump or rituals such as ear boring or circumcision. It also results due to unsterile injections.

The incubation period varies from two days to several weeks but is commonly six to twelve days. This is influenced by several factors such as site and nature of the wound, the dose and toxigenicity of the contaminating organism and the immune status of the patient.

Tetanus is seen commonly in developing countries where the climate seems to be warm and in rural areas where the soil is fertile and highly cultivated where human and animal populations are substantial and live in close association and where unhygienic practices are common and medical facilities are poor.