Tetanus or not?

[Vellorian]

My 12 year old cut her foot while visiting some friends. I don't know how well it bled, I was not present at the time. The wound is on the bottom of her foot. Maybe 2cm long--doesn't look deep.

Doctor wants to give her a full range of vaccines -- DPT primarily.

We are an anti-vax family.

I've done some research and it seems that everyone is saying that getting a tetanus shot is pointless.

So, as a very concerned father, what do we do?

What do we look for?

How do I make sure my 12 year old has a 13th birthday?

[Otto]

Originally Posted by Vellorian

I've done some research and it seems that everyone is saying that getting a tetanus shot is pointless.

I don't think anyone would say that getting a TiG shot is pointless. (I disagree with the frequent claim that the toxoid vaccine is futile in acute injuries, but that's a separate matter.)

[Vellorian]

I've read some internet postings that said that the shot takes 3 weeks to take effect -- which raises all kinds of questions in my mind about the point of *anyone* getting the shot.

I didn't give any credence to internet information until the THIRD time I visited my doctor and discovered that he was looking at all the same sites that I was visiting to give me advice.

So, why was I paying him $50 ($15 for my copay and $35 from my insurance company) to do *exactly* what I was doing?

[babygrant]

What did she cut her foot on? I think that would be the deciding factor for me.

I got a tetanus shot when I was pregnant with my youngest son because I stepped on a rusty basket and woke up the next morning with a red line running up my leg.

[sbgrace]

Well, there is evidence that if you get it soon enough it gives protection. I did it for my son after thinking on it for 24 hours even though we're no vaxing. But his injury was different and I think based on description more severe with some complicating factors and he had stitches that I felt increased the risk of any tetanus bacteria being unable to get oxygen. Since pertussis is relatively common (and won't likely kill but lasts and lasts) I considered it a side benefit of my son's tetanus shot because even if it doesn't prevent pertussis I would think it might influence duration and severity. I wouldn't have gotten it of course but I wasn't upset that he got DPT when he needed tetanus for that reason. Anyway, the bleeding, depth, was it outside/what cut it, and if she had stitches would influence me. Her cut is different than my kid but if she got stitches (I can't tell since you did take her in) that would/did make me lean toward the shot because oxygen isn't coming in at that point.

[INF-ss]

Originally Posted by Vellorian

I've done some research and it seems that everyone is saying that getting a tetanus shot is pointless.

Exactly this.

[MountainMamaGC]

The wound isnt deep? A shallow wound gets lots of air/oxygen exposure. Does it look good, like its healing well? If so then I would not worry in the slightest.

[zmom2010]

The bacteria that causes tetanus (clostridium tetani) is an anaerobe, meaning it really doesn't survive well in the presence of oxygen. So, more than likely, since it's a shallow cut, I wouldn't be too worried.

That being said, DH and DS do get tetanus shots. I do not b/c of prior vaccine reactions.

BUT,IMO, I would make sure the doctor wasn't just using this small cut as a "fear" tactic to get your daughter all her vaccines. I'm not an expert on vaccines, but at 12yoa, can't she just get a tetanus and not a full DTaP?

[es1967]

Here is a good link. I have one of Dr Tennpenny's Dvd's and its very informative.

http://www.vaccinetruth.org/page_8.htm

[BellaClaudia]

I agree with the posters above..

and as to the wound itself .. If it was mine old leg I would do
what my grandma did when I was a kid and i would come home
with all kinds of cuts and things.. in times when people did
not even heard of using antibiotics on everything possible..

she would just run to the nearest grocery store, buy a little
bottle of purest alcohole she could find (not the rubbing yacky one)
but vodka / scotch.. clear alcohol type of thing..

and she would pour it on the cut every so often ( few times during
first three days) first time would always be the most painfull and
then somehow less. and less.. and once the wound healed there was no pain anymore..
she did it probably to kill off any bacteria.. that was desinfecting kid of a choice that she learned
from her mother who saw doctors doing it all the time.... go figure..

how safe it is or was? I don't know but clearly I never
had any infections and my wounds never got any redness around
so it probably did the trick..

this is not my advise though as I am not a doctor, it is just
sharing my own experience from curious times and places of my past..

I think in your case what is very important is osmehow to protect the
wound from secondary infection by touching or accidental rubbing against
shoe or whatever..

yet it is tricky from the position point of view..

and also because oxygen heals woonds fastest.. and cutting it off could
lead to T.. in itself.. as in putting some bandaid that would be non-breathing kind.
I really don't like them...

if you were to put something on her foot make sure it is BREATHABLE
CLOATH band aid as opposed to plastic ones that are just sort of
tape scotch material..

change it often.. really often and keep the wound open for a while to
air.. half hour to hour or so if possible doing nothing else.. watching tv..
or stuff as not to risk walking without anythign.. this will the oxygen to get in and help to heal the woond

it is available in stores just one has to look for it... it is mixed up with bad guys.

also..chances of getting T.. is most dangeorous if the cut was done on rusty things or
things that contained feces material otherwise supposed to be not that
dangerous.. but then again need to be researched further...

oh.. lastly I probably would go with topical antibiotic.. neosporine or something just in case..


amd also blueberries by tons!.. eat fresh blueberreis.. juice them
organic at best.. and wilde frozen ones..
super booster to immune system that she needs.. and what a delicous
way to get better

Good luck! and keep us posted.