Tetanus Risk: Immune Globulin Yes or No?

[Anastasiya]

DS (6) dropped a boulder on his finger the other day, so he's got a crushed looking fingertip (no broken bones, a bunch of bruising and what looks like a blood clot at the tip. Would you, if this was your son, get the TIG?

He's had no vaccines, btw.

[lokidoki]

Are you saying he has a blood blister ~ like under the nail? Was it a puncture or just a bruise ~ collection of blood under the nail? There needs to be a puncture of some sort for there to be a risk of Tetanus...and for the record...if there is blood present then it is doing the job of cleaning the wound. What it sounds like to me is a collection of bruising and no puncture ~ so no risk.

ET: changed "their" to "there"...sleepless night last night with DS2 who has a stomach bug...apparently impacts my ability to write correctly

Edited by lokidoki - 2/11/12 at 10:34am

[CrazyCatLady]

I have an unvaccinated seven year old and that injury wouldn't concern me in the least.

[Taximom5]

Tetanus immunoglobulin comes in a multi dose vial, and it is preserved with thimerosal.  Since it isn't one of the mandated pediatric vaccines, it does not come in a thimerosal-free version.

[Carise99]

Tetanus immunoglobulin is a treatment used if an individual has already contracted tetanus, in conjunction with antibiotics. Unless the boulder was covered in feces, there's no cause for concern. Even if it was covered in feces, there's no evidence that a tetanus vaccination would prevent the disease either. Keep it clean and dry.

[miriam]

.

Edited by miriam - 5/27/12 at 1:48pm

[Taximom5]

Originally Posted by miriam 

I do believe that TIG is a human blood product. If this is true, then it would carry all of the attendant risks of a human blood product.

Those risks, PLUS the mercury in the Thimerosal.

[ma2two]

The tetanus immune globulin does not contain thimerosal, but it is a human blood product.

http://www.talecris-pi.info/inserts/hypertet.pdf

[katelove]

Originally Posted by Carise99 

Tetanus immunoglobulin is a treatment used if an individual has already contracted tetanus, in conjunction with antibiotics. Unless the boulder was covered in feces, there's no cause for concern. Even if it was covered in feces, there's no evidence that a tetanus vaccination would prevent the disease either. Keep it clean and dry.

Tetanus immunoglobulin is primarily (in my professional experience) used to *prevent* tetanus after an exposure. 

Crush injuries are considered a high risk injury for tetanus exposure because of the potential for bacteria to be forced deep into the tissues and not subsequently exposed to air. However, as PPs have have already said, if the skin is not broken then that isn't an issue.

[Taximom5]

Originally Posted by ma2two 

The tetanus immune globulin does not contain thimerosal, but it is a human blood product.

http://www.talecris-pi.info/inserts/hypertet.pdf

According to http://www.drugs.com/ppa/tetanus-immune-globulin-tig.html, it is contraindicated for anyone who is sensitive to thimerosal. 

[ma2two]

Originally Posted by Taximom5 

According to http://www.drugs.com/ppa/tetanus-immune-globulin-tig.html, it is contraindicated for anyone who is sensitive to thimerosal. 

I think drugs.com is wrong, because the package insert says it is preservative free, and doesn't mention thimerosal at all.

http://www.talecris-pi.info/inserts/BayTet.pdf

[Taximom5]

Could be.  I wonder if there is more than one version of the vaccine?

[slmommy]

I found two brands - Baytet and HyperTET S/D, it looks like both are thimerosal free, but google brings up a lot of sites saying what you found taximom5, about sensitivity to thimerosal or outright saying it contains. Maybe outdated or just incorrect?

[Taximom5]

Is it possible that thimerosal is used in production, with some remaining, but none is used in the final product as preservative (as they are packaged in individual, pre measured syringes)?  They are actually not required to list thimerosal as an ingredient that way.

[ma2two]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taximom5 

Is it possible that thimerosal is used in production, with some remaining, but none is used in the final product as preservative (as they are packaged in individual, pre measured syringes)?  They are actually not required to list thimerosal as an ingredient that way.

I think that might be possible, but every vaccine that is made that way lists thimerosal as an ingredient, with <0.3 or 1 mcg mercury.

[SassyJ11]

Good info to know!  My almost 5 yr old dd (unvaxed, numerous chemical/food/enviro allergies) got a hawthorne in her heel 18 months ago, and upon removal her allergist insisted on the tetanus immune globulin administered in an ER setting under 2 hour observation.  The site ended up being severely infected, which we cleared up using only lavender oil.  She had no reaction at all to the vax.  I appreciate knowing this info, as this is the route she'll have to go in the future if anything happens.    

~ Jen  ,  mama to Truman (9), Hunter (6.5) 7 Mandie (almost 5)

[katelove]

Just to clarify - TIG is *not* a vaccine.

[Taximom5]

 

Originally Posted by katelove 

Just to clarify - TIG is *not* a vaccine.

Actually, it IS a vaccine.

From http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/vaccine

vaccine /vac·cine/ (vak´sēn) a suspension of attenuated or killed microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, or rickettsiae), or of antigenic proteins derived from them, administered for prevention, amelioration, or treatment of infectious diseases.

[Anastasiya]

I didn't realize there were any answers to my thread since I haven't been getting any updates. Sorry!

There was broken skin. It was a small cut around his fingernail...nothing punctured. His finger is STILL swollen with black spots on it (bruising?) and doesn't seem to hurt since he never mentions it. It is not red or infected looking....just swollen.

[katelove]

Originally Posted by Taximom5 

 

Originally Posted by katelove 

Just to clarify - TIG is *not* a vaccine.

Actually, it IS a vaccine.

From http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/vaccine

vaccine /vac·cine/ (vak´sēn) a suspension of attenuated or killed microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, or rickettsiae), or of antigenic proteins derived from them, administered for prevention, amelioration, or treatment of infectious diseases.

TIG is a suspension of antibodies. It doesn't contain C. tetani or any other micro-organism.