Tetanus Q

[HRJ]

I posted this in the I'm Not vaccinating forum but thought I might get varied responses here.  

Ds is 7 UNVAXXED and just ran into a metal filing cabinet. His head bled quite a Bit at first. Dr (integrative medicine and vaccine friendly) recommends shot bc it was with metal. Don't know what to do. So upset. This happened at a friends house.

Does the TIG have alumimum or just the DT/Tetanus vaccine?

[anj_rn]

You should be able to look online and find out the meal content of the filing cabinet.  But more importantly, Tetanus is caused bu a bacterrie (C.tetani), that lives in the dirt outside.  I highly doubt the file cabinet was stored outside, so you are probably OK.  If you want the vax, ask for just the Tetanus Toxoid (TT) which is for post exposure and does not have any of the other options.

[MelodySkies]

To my understanding, as long as there is BLEEDING then there is no risk of tetanus.  I may be completely OFF here.

[anj_rn]

Bleeding does not matter, the question is whether or not the tetanus bacteria (usually found in the dirt) is present.  Since there is little chance that the filing cabinet was exposed to dirt, they should be OK.  HOWEVER, due to liability issues, all licensed health care practitioners will recommend an immediate tetanus shot.  

[FlipMom23]

Doc is way off. First, metal has nothing to do with tetanus, other than often being the dirty object that causes the wound.  Tetanus can be caused by a stick, plastic, metal, etc.  It is anaerobic and needs a wound that has no oxygenation in order to survive.

Second, if your son is unvaccinated, a tetanus shot (vaccine, I assume?) will do absolutely nothing to prevent tetanus at this point.  He would need TIG (immune globulin) if he were indeed at risk.

If it were my unvaxed kid, I wouldn't even think twice about it, unless it was a puncture wound from a metal filing cabinet that had been buried in dirt for a while. 

Edited by FlipMom23 - 10/26/12 at 6:43am

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by anj_rn 

Bleeding does not matter, the question is whether or not the tetanus bacteria (usually found in the dirt) is present.  Since there is little chance that the filing cabinet was exposed to dirt, they should be OK.  HOWEVER, due to liability issues, all licensed health care practitioners will recommend an immediate tetanus shot.  

 actually bleeding DOES matter  - alot. Since bleeding is what tells you a wound is oxegynated and tetanus cannot survive in the presence of oxygen

[pers]

Originally Posted by Marnica 

 actually bleeding DOES matter  - alot. Since bleeding is what tells you a wound is oxegynated and tetanus cannot survive in the presence of oxygen

Bleeding is good, but it doesn't absolutely guarantee that all tetanus spores are washed out of the body.  

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by pers 

Bleeding is good, but it doesn't absolutely guarantee that all tetanus spores are washed out of the body.  

 I never said it was a guarantee. Nothing is guaranteed except death and taxes :)