Ear piercing and tetanus?

[snuffles]

My 8 yr old (unvaxed) had her ears pierced about 7 weeks ago. Everything went fine until about a week ago when we removed her stud and now they are looking a little infected. I've been searching on the internet and see things about tetanus and ear piercing.. now I'm freaking out!! Is this a real concern? Please help.

[spero]

I don't think I'd be too worried about tetanus.

The first time I had my ears pierced (when I was about 10), they were always infected - red, swollen, pus. I had to allow them to close and had them re-pierced a few years later. I was still REALLY prone to sensitivity and infection, but it wasn't as bad as before. The same thing happened to my niece - she had her ears pierced as an infant and one of them was infected all the time, so they let them close up.

I think some people are just prone to these types of infection.

[LaLaLaLa]

My pierced ears were always getting infected when I was a kid. It was never anything serious, though, just annoying and itchy and gross.

This doesn't answer your tetanus question, but for me the problem is that my skin is sensitive to any jewelry that isn't real gold. No stainless steel, no silver, nothing but gold will prevent infections for me.

Good luck!

[prescottchels]

I would not worry about tetanus and ear piercings. at. all.
Mine got infected when I got them pierced at 10. The backs were on too tight and there wasn't enough air circulation for them to heal properly. It took about twice as long as normal for them to be ok. Also when I wear surgical steel posts, the nickel in them causes a reaction as do some posts that say they're hypo-allergenic. I have to stick to 14K gold or sterling silver, nothing plated either. You might check your daughters too.
They'll heal. Just keep earrings in. Hoops might work better for air flow, and clean them a couple times a day.
Even now after 20+ yrs of having the same holes they still will get inflamed at random times even when I leave the same pair in for months that have never bothered me before-go figure, and if I leave them out for more than a day or two watch out! Those holes can close up fast on ya!
You'll learn what works and what doesn't over time...
Good Luck!!
Chelsie :-)

[taterbug1999]

My dd had her ears done at 18 mos. and is only now able to wear earrings again. She tolerated the original studs w/o prob, but anything else tore her ears up. Flash forward to this fall when her step-grandma visited her family in Italy and brought back 18 k italian gold hoops. For the first time in many many years she can wear earrings. All that to agree with pp that some people are just more sensitive....

As a precaution you can swab the holes until they hesal better with hydrogen peroxide. This oxygenates a wound and as you know tetanus cannot grow in the presence of oxygen. We keep bottle after bottle of H2O2in our house!!

[just_lily]

Could also just be a sensitivity to the metal.... I can't wear nickel.

I wouldn't be worried about tetanus.

[Marnica]

Ditto to PP's....Tetnus should not be a concern!!!
Mine were always infected too as a kid....I could only wear stainless steel or sterling silver posts...no cheap stuff!!

[snuffles]

K.. thanks for the replies. I'm thinking I'm going to get her some gold earrings. But, all of the earrings she has worn say "hypo-allergenic".. whatever that means.

[momto l&a]

IMO it the junk they give to clean the piercing daily. For my second set I started to use it till I noticed them looking a bit infected, switched to alcohol and no more infections.