Tetanus

[sbgrace]

My son had an injury last night and received stitches. The injury itself bled but the skin and tissue had bunched up in on small still mostly attached area. At any rate, the ER took that skin and tissue and sewed it back/did stitches.

Anyway, do the stitches reduce airflow and so increase tetanus risk?
I'm wondering if he needs a tetanus shot.

[KimPM]

Originally Posted by sbgrace

My son had an injury last night and received stitches. The injury itself bled but the skin and tissue had bunched up in on small still mostly attached area. At any rate, the ER took that skin and tissue and sewed it back/did stitches.

Anyway, do the stitches reduce airflow and so increase tetanus risk?
I'm wondering if he needs a tetanus shot.

I'm so sorry to hear about his injury.

That's a good question. I would think that because the stitches close up the wound so it can heal, if it has a chance to heal from the outside in, then yes it could increase risk.

A few questions to think about ...what is the nature of the injury...was it dirty from outdoors? How deep was the wound? Do you think it will heal on the outside first? How well was it cleaned out?

You probably already know this, but...you could consider getting him a TIG shot instead of a tetanus vaccine. At his age, the tetanus vaccine also comes with diphtheria and pertussis, you can't just get a tetanus-only shot. It is doubtful that a tetanus vaccine given after the injury would do anything for that injury. And the TIG is a human blood product, with the potential risks of that.

[sbgrace]

Well. We're non vaxing but he did get the DTaP today.

I really thought this through. I didn't want a human blood product (if they would even get it/would do it). There was evidence in my reading that the vax given close to injury has time to prevent tetanus. Side note: I really don't want/need the evidence against this as it's done now!

I felt there was risk due to the nature of the injury and the stitches.

Beyond that I decided the pertussis component in an asthmatic was a possible side benefit. At his age we could only do combined.

So I feel ok about the decision in this case. I asked them not to put him in the state vax tracking computer system and I don't think they will so it's all ok.

[blessedwithboys]

just a note...in many states you have to sign a form to keep the vax out of the e-record or else it will be added even though you verbally refused...are you in public school?