tetanus stress!

[plumm]

Hi,

My 10 year old unvaccinated son was bitten by a small marsupial (a quokka in Western Australia) 2 days ago. It took a chunk out of his finger. We cleaned it with soapy water, fresh water and a lot of dettol 'wound wash', then dried and applied savlon and a dressing. It did bleed a bit. It does not look inflamed at all, and he does not complains of pain.

We saw the GP today for other things and of course when he heard about the bite was very keen for us to go to the hospital for tetanus immunoglobulin, and subsequent vaccination. I am feeling so overwhelmed and anxious with the decision to go either way. I am terrified that if we don't give him the immunoglobulin he will get terribly unwell, and if we do, and the vaccination he will too.

I have given him homoeopathic prophylaxis but he hasn't had any for a few years. Yesterday and today I have given him Ledum 30c once each day.

I know I am suffering huge anxiety over this and it is clouding my ability to make a rational decision. I feel paralysed with indecision and fear and am very teary about the desicion.

Any suggestions or advice re the tetanus risk would be great. My anxiety is something I know I need to deal with, and will, but this more urgent issue is what I need help to address.

Thanks in advance

[jenniferlynne]

I would get the vaccination without a second thought.

[erinmattsmom88]

My kids are partially vaxed. In this scenario, I'd get them the shot.

[Dakotacakes]

In the U.S. I would be more worried about rabies than Tetnus, but in Australia that isn't a concern.  I would personally get the tetnus shot for him.

[kathymuggle]

If it bled, I think the risk of tetanus is low.  The risk of tetanus is very low anyways  (about 1/12 000 000 in the USA) - and most common in the elderly, drug users, diabetics, etc.  The 1/12 000 000 does take into account most people are vaxxed, but the number of non-vaxxed indivuals who get tetanus is still extremely low.  Smart vax said this:

"To determine the average risk of an unvaccinated child contracting tetanus from an acute injury, we utilized the reported tetanus cases in the pre-vaccine era (1947 – 1949) of 580 cases per year [5] and assumed 75% of cases were reported to calculate an estimated tetanus incidence rate per year amongst unvaccinated individuals in the USA of 0.05 per 10,000 or 1 in 190,000.  The cumulative risk of death from tetanus due to acute injury up to age 5 was calculated to be 0.013 per 10,000 or 1 in 759,000. "

If you do decide to bring him in for immunoglobulin you do not have to give a tetanus vax at the same time.  It will not be useful for this wound anyways.  You can think about it.

You are new (which is the only reason I am putting this out there) but this is mindful vax where only vaccine support is allowed.  If you are looking for alternative views, you might want to cross post in vaccine debate or non-vax.

Welcome to MDC!

Kathy

Edited by kathymuggle - 12/3/12 at 4:51pm

[WildKingdom]

Originally Posted by kathymuggle 

If it bled, I think the risk of tetanus is low.  The risk of tetanus is very low anyways  (about 1/12 000 000 in the USA) - and most common in the elderly, drug users, etc.  The 1/12 000 000 does take into account most people are vaxxed, but the number of non-vaxxed indivuals who get tetanus is still extremely low.  Smart vax said this:

"To determine the average risk of an unvaccinated child contracting tetanus from an acute injury, we utilized the reported tetanus cases in the pre-vaccine era (1947 – 1949) of 580 cases per year [5] and assumed 75% of cases were reported to calculate an estimated tetanus incidence rate per year amongst unvaccinated individuals in the USA of 0.05 per 10,000 or 1 in 190,000.  The cumulative risk of death from tetanus due to acute injury up to age 5 was calculated to be 0.013 per 10,000 or 1 in 759,000. "

If you do decide to bring him in for immunoglobulin you do not have to give a tetanus vax at the same time.  It will not be useful for this wound anyways.  You can think about it.

You are new (which is the only reason I am putting this out there) but this is mindful vax where only vaccine support is allowed.  If you are looking for alternative views, you might want to cross post in vaccine debate or non-vax.

Welcome to MDC!

Kathy

Bites are high risk for tetanus, regardless of how much they bleed, because teeth can innoculate bacteria deep into the wound.

FYI.

[Turquesa]

Definitely the immunoglobulin. We vax for tetanus, but don't feel rushed to make that decision in the ER.

Of course...you've probably made your choice by now.Check back in and let us know how it went.

[emmy526]

in my unvaxed child, i'd get the TiG...