My wife cut herself cleaning the oven. Metal, no apparent rust (although I understand this is probably irrelevant). The cut's about 0.7cm long and the bleeding took a few minutes to stop. We washed it with soap and water, applied antiseptic cream and put on a band-aid.
I want her to get a tetanus shot - she's never had one - but she's scared to death of needles and is refusing to.
We're in the city, by the way. No animals, soil, etc, in our house.
2007-02-03 15:22:24 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Thanks, everyone, for the very quick replies. I got my wife to read what you said and it's helped her decide - albeit reluctantly - to get a shot.
2007-02-03 16:08:56 · update #1
get her the shot, since she never had this shot before, she should get two, the active and the passive components... ive seen tetanus patients, they are not a pretty sight... very drawn-out course, very protracting, very debilitating... not to mention potentially-life threatening... the two shots ( and its cost, very minimal even w/o insurance ) the pain and the discomfort from the two shots are nothing compared to the protection and benefits you get from it, observing the wound has no bearing, tetanus is a systemic illness, not localized ( nothing in the wound will suggest if you get it or dont get it )... since there is no way of knowing if she might get tetanus or not, have her get the shots...not trying to scare you or anything... just trying to be prudent...
2007-02-03 15:43:09 · answer #1 · answered by Clive Roland 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you may get it in 24 hours. Tetanus is a micro organism that lives extraordinarily much everywhere in the airborne dirt and dirt, yet is for some reason nicely-enjoyed for being on rusty nails. once you get the tetanus micro organism put in your foot from a nail the micro organism do no longer flow all over the physique and infect it, they in basic terms infect the community section the place they have been implanted and placed their toxin into the blood. The toxin is going to the worried device and blocks inhibitory neurotransmitters, so the excitatory neurotransmitters are extra useful, maximum well known to severe contractions, lockjaw, and so on. once you have a tetanus shot you're injecting a toxoid, that's a mimic of the toxin, yet without the undesirable outcomes. the clarification you like a shot after stepping on a nail is to rigidity your immune device to ramp up the anti-toxin antibodies that it already is familiar with a thank you to make. The micro organism take approximately 3 days to start making the toxin, however the immune device takes approximately 2 days to respond to the toxin (regardless of in case you have been immunized in the previous, it takes 10 days in case you haven't any longer been immunized in any respect), and via then the toxin might have completed its interest and doubtless killed your spouse. as a thank you to maintain that from happening you get a tetanus shot that then forces your immune device to get to artwork in the previous the toxin is cutting-edge, so as that once the toxin is made via the micro organism it will be neutralized in the previous it could harm your spouse. i wish this helps.
2016-10-01 09:43:18 · answer #2 · answered by koffler 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probably fine as it's not a puncture wound and the bleeding would clean it out. My last tetanus shot was the one where they told me I could go. They'd already given me the shot. I didn't feel a thing. It's good for 10 yrs. The needles are really sharp now.
2007-02-03 15:41:19 · answer #3 · answered by lyyman 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Even though her cut does not sound severe, she should get a tetanus shot simply for the reason that she has never had one before. I find it hard to believe she has never been given a tetanus shot!! I think you should get one every five or ten years- I can't remember which, but just take her to get one. The pain is over in seconds!!
2007-02-03 15:28:35 · answer #4 · answered by sloppyjo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have her get the tetanus shot. They have changed! I just had one last year and I HATE HATE HATE needles. However, the pain was NOTHING like I remember the shot used to being. It literally felt like I pricked myself with a sewing needle. It was quick and honestly for th emost part painless. No big long needle or any burning sensation either.
2007-02-03 15:34:45 · answer #5 · answered by Tanya924 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You should have a tetnus shot every 10 years. Tell her the pain of the infection she will develop if she doesn't get the shot will be a lot worse then the pain of the needle. Guess what, I have yet to meet one person who likes needles!
2007-02-03 15:38:19 · answer #6 · answered by MadeYouReadThis 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just keep an eye on it. If it looks like its infected...gets red swollen or you notice pus coming out. then see your doctor. A tetanus is usually for a deep puncture or cut. Keep it clean and dry in the meantime.
No tetanus needed.
2007-02-03 15:27:36 · answer #7 · answered by Steph 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She probably does not need a tetnus shot, but eventually she might have to get a tetnus booster, I found that one out at my last physical, I have not had one in about 25 or so years and they said surprise you need a booster, you need one every 10 years, boy was I surprised.
2007-02-03 15:36:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋