Need some advice...wwyd? (re:tetanus, tig)

[stacey05]

I noticed the thread below about spider bites and tetanus. I started researching because my toddler is unvaccinated and got his first insect/spider(?) bite. It is rock hard in the middle, swollen and red. My 7yo has reactions like this to mosquito bites. I do not know what bit my toddler...I am guessing an ant, spider or mosquito. Anyway, I never knew about insect/spider bites possibly causing tetanus. UGH!

Should I get him the TIG? I know the dtap/tetanus shot would not work now anyway. Is the TIG harmless or does it have undesirable side effects like the vaccine? I guess I am panicking a little, because everything you read says that insect bites can cause tetanus. What would you do? The bite is about 2-3 days old, he isn't showing signs of infections (although it is still swollen, hard and red), but I read that tetanus can take 2 weeks to start showing symptoms. Please let me know what your thoughts are on this. Thank you.

[lauradbg]

I'm not going to tell you what to do, but I want to ask you: Have you ever been bitten by an insect? What was the outcome?

[ammiga]

Does it itch? I would ice it and put calamine lotion on it.

[ZoeyZoo]

I haven't researched TIG as much as DTaP. I do know it's a blood product.

[*Erin*]

my dcs both get horrid mosquito bumps after a bite. i have found that a dab of benedryl lotion works wonders, and makes them shrink within an hour or two. you might try that. as far as tetenus goes-my not-a-licensed-HCP-opionion, i'd be slightly more concerned if it was a sting from something with a stinger, like a bee or wasp, but even then, if the stinger was totally removed, and the bite-area was cleaned and dressed, the chances of developing systemic tetenus from that would be incredibly super small.
keep an eye on it-not to scare you, but sometimes what can initially be assumed to be a bug bite is actually a staph infection, MRSA.

[prescottchels]

When I was a child mosquito bites reacted the same way as w/your DC's.
Are you in to essential oils at all? When I get bug bites I put lavender on them since it has anti-bacterial properties as well as helping to relieve itching and swelling. I also use Young Living brand Purification oil on bites since it has a toxin drawing property to it. It also helps stop itching and promotes healing.
Good luck!

[Marnica]

You can also put castor oil on it...this draws out impurities as well

As for the TIG for a insect bite, I wouldn't worry about it personally. The chances of getting tetanus from aninsect bite are miniscule and far smaller than a adverse reaction to the TIG which of course has risks. All vaccines have risks. The TIG is a blood product made from the blood of donors who have been immunized with the tetanus toxoid vaccine...it also contains detergents and solvents.

[japonica]

Maybe he's just having a reaction to the venom of whatever bit him. I was stung by a wasp two summers ago. My ankle swelled up to the size of a baseball on one side.

Oh and my last T booster was in the 70s...so maybe I'm lucky to be alive...hee hee.

I wouldn't worry about insect bites and stings. I think the transmission of tetanus that way is pretty miniscule considering the millions of people who are bitten and stung every summer.