Help!! Do I need to worry about this splinter and tetanus?

[Symbi]

I am so worried. My little one has a splinter in his thumb that I know did not bleed. It is very small, and while it does not seem to have gone in very deep, it is under the skin too far for us to pull out. I have tried to soaking it in water and in peroxide, but it hasn't really helped, and he is a very active/squirmy child, so it's hard to even get a good look. I know from Aviva Jill Romm's book and other threads on this forum that splinters can be a source of tetanus. He is completely unvaccinated. Would you be concerned? How long do you think until the splinter works its way out?
Thanks for any input.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

It would never even occure to me to be worried about tetenus for a splinter honestly. I would wait till he is asleep then try to remove it then. If you cant it will probably work its way out eventually.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

It would never even occure to me to be worried about tetenus for a splinter honestly. I would wait till he is asleep then try to remove it then. If you cant it will probably work its way out eventually.

:

I'd worry about infection WAY before tetanus.

-Angela

[Symbi]

So how do I avoid infection? And I really think it is too far under the skin to work out--even while he is sleeping. :-(

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Watch it closely and maybe put some ointment on there if it starts getting red. I havnt had to deal with many splinters thank goodness.

But the ones I have I was able to use a needle and gently work it out without much pain to the child.

[alegna]

I wouldn't worry- just take a look at it a couple of times a day.

-Angela

[glorified_rice]

You might look for a drawing salve. Hylands makes one: http://www.amazon.com/Hylands-Homeop.../dp/B0014ATGJ6

I use manuka honey on things like that to prevent infection.

I would not worry about tetanus.

[Nirvana4freedom]

I seem to remember there are some remedies in Homeopathy for drawing out splinters or for splinter wounds. Maybe you could ask some homepath. I second the Manuka Honey. Just keep an eye on the thumb for signs of infection.

[MissRubyandKen]

I do salt water soaks for wounds that I worry about infection.

[cloak]

Originally Posted by Symbi

I know from Aviva Jill Romm's book and other threads on this forum that splinters can be a source of tetanus. He is completely unvaccinated. Would you be concerned?

I am aware of splinters causing tetanus but I would only be concerned if it were a fairly big splinter and it was deep in the skin. Most splinters are only superficially deep in my experience with kids and they just work themselves out with no issues. My kids have had a ton of splinters like these.

Just keep an eye on it and watch for signs of infection.

[luminesce]

I've picked a couple of small ones out of my son's feet. I don't really even know how he got them. I also found one that had worked its way out on its own.

I'd try to get it out when she is asleep if she won't let you work with it. It was pretty hard to work with my son's feet. DH entertained while I worked with them. It only worked for a little while though.

I second the salt water soak to help avoid infection. I recently soaked a hangnail that started to look like it might be getting infected. It looked awful before the soak and amazingly better after it. I think it has a bit of a "drawing" effect and should aid in healing.