Tetanus is an acute infectious disease, manifested by the occurrence of attacks of contractions of the striated muscles, including the muscles as important for human life as the respiratory muscles. This is a severe disease which, on many occasions, may result in death; however, its effective prevention is possible. Within the last decades in Poland, a decrease has been observed in the number of tetanus cases. The illness is most often noted among farmers during the spring- autumn season, which is associated with the intensification of fieldwork activities in rural areas. No cases have been observed among children and adolescents, which evidences the immunization of this group by preventive vaccination. Since 1984, no cases of tetanus have occurred in infants.