DD Stepped on Rusty Metal

[MamaAllNatural]

And of course there's that whole "rusty nail" causing tetanus thing. Should I be worried? I've done health care in the past and am good at dealing with injuries that don't require stitches or casts but I'm wondering if there's anything I need to do? It actually didn't even bleed that bad. It was kind of thick but luckily I don't think the puncture was too terribly deep. I washed her foot and then soaked it for a long time in hot sea salt water. And it is covered to protect from infection. This was a metal fence type thing. Old, dirty, a little rusty. And of course ten minutes before I'd told her to put her shoes on. I'd appreciate any input. Thanks.

[nataliachick7]

when i went to dr eisenteins vaccine seminar (author of educate before you vaccinate) he said should something like this happen, you can get an anti tetanus toxoid shot at the er. you do NOT want the tetanus shot, as that will tie up your immunity, but he called it something like the anti tetanus shot. i cant remember the exact name.

[ItTakesTwo]

When I was younger we had the town dump not far from my house. Thankfully it's been cleaned up since then. Anyway - while playing there one summer I stepped on a nail sticking up from a board. It went through my shoe, my sock, and a good ways, IMO, into my foot. There was a blood stain about the size of a dime when I got home, but was no longer bleeding. I told my mom and I remember her making me soak my foot in something for a long time because my friend was mad I had to stop playing for the day. I was fine, no tetanus.

Just wanted to share.

[alegna]

I would not worry. And rust has nothing to do with tetanus.

-Angela

[MamaAllNatural]

Thank you! Very helpful.

[paquerette]

The "rusty nail" thing started because usually the rusty nail would be a horseshoe nail. Horse poop has a tendency to have tetanus spores. Rust is just oxidized iron. If it bled at all and your child has no circulation problems, I don't think it's an issue.

[bamamom]

yep...rust=oxidized iron= not so scary.

rusty farm equipment/shard + field of cow/horse manure nearby + wound didnt cleanse well by bleeding,soaking....maybe worth some thought and a trip for a shot. Maybe.

[MamaAllNatural]

Thank you so much for the info. Definitely no horse dookie where she stepped on it...we're good to go!

[Plummeting]

The rusty nail thing probably did not come from rusty horseshoes nails. The reason nails are associated with tetanus is because puncture wounds of any sort are more tetanus prone, not because it requires animal manure to develop tetanus. Tetanus spores are everywhere. There happen to be more of them in the excrement of certain animals, including some humans, but tetanus spores are in your house, on your furniture, in the dirt, etc. They're everywhere.

Tetanus is an anaerobic bacteria, so in order for the spores to become active and start producing toxin, they need an oxygen-free environment. Since blood carries oxygen, most wounds aren't a really hospitable environment for the bacteria. However, when you get a puncture wound (or burn or crushing wound) that isn't getting a lot of blood flow, you have an environment that's perfect for tetanus. THAT is why rusty nails are associated with tetanus, no animal manure required.

Tetanus was always rare in children, though, because they have great circulation. I myself tend to worry more about tetanus than the average non-vaxing mama, so I understand your concern.

[boobjuice]

Originally Posted by Plummeting

The rusty nail thing probably did not come from rusty horseshoes nails. The reason nails are associated with tetanus is because puncture wounds of any sort are more tetanus prone, not because it requires animal manure to develop tetanus. Tetanus spores are everywhere. There happen to be more of them in the excrement of certain animals, including some humans, but tetanus spores are in your house, on your furniture, in the dirt, etc. They're everywhere.

Tetanus is an anaerobic bacteria, so in order for the spores to become active and start producing toxin, they need an oxygen-free environment. Since blood carries oxygen, most wounds aren't a really hospitable environment for the bacteria. However, when you get a puncture wound (or burn or crushing wound) that isn't getting a lot of blood flow, you have an environment that's perfect for tetanus. THAT is why rusty nails are associated with tetanus, no animal manure required.

Tetanus was always rare in children, though, because they have great circulation. I myself tend to worry more about tetanus than the average non-vaxing mama, so I understand your concern.

so theoretically the tetanus can live inside the oxidized iron if it has no access to oxygen? or the spores are present on the nail, for example, and it goes into the foot where there may be low oxygen/blood supply like the heel and then tetanus has the opportunity to grow?

i would assume tetanus also needs some humidity? no light? and a temp range? i know there is a hundred and one posts on this, so please bear with me.
thank you