I cut myself with one yesterday and I'm not vaxinated against Tetanus -it's a horrible, deadly illness. I'm worried, should I consider it a certainty that Tetanus was in that old rusty nail ?
2007-09-13 15:12:55 · 8 answers · asked by Acha 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
If you cut yourself with a old rusty nail, you should go get it checked out. Not all rusty nails have C tetani (the bactera that causes tetanus), but many rusty nails may contain OTHER BACTERIA that can potentially cause problems. If you are not vaccinated against tetanus within the last 10 years, you should get one ANYWAYS, regardless of whether you cut yourself with a nail.
I recommend at least go and get a tetanus shot and at the same time get the wound cleaned out.
2007-09-13 15:54:31 · answer #1 · answered by poke22 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not the nail, this is just the classic example. It is C. tetani the bacteria that causes tetanus. On say a rusty nail the bacteria forms spores and the spores will become vegative when they reach a warm, moist, low oxygen environment. So for a person to get the disease the wound must be a puncture wound, not a scratch. A puncture wound is deep, warm, moist and low oxygen just what the bacteria need to begin to grow and produce the toxin to produce the disease. A tetanus booster is good for about 10 years. If it has been that long then for good measure get a booster, but I think you will be fine.
2007-09-13 15:33:27 · answer #2 · answered by mr.answerman 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Go get a tetanus shot ASAP. I don't know if that nail would cause tetanus, but why take a chance?
A tetanus shot can hurt for days, but if you rub, massage, and flex/exercise your arm, the pain is minimal.
TX Mom
not an expert
2007-09-13 16:00:02 · answer #3 · answered by TX Mom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes tetanus is present in the soil, and rusty nails that have been in the soil.
if it is a deep cut then get a shot.
2007-09-13 15:30:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tetnus is not a condition that you want to deal with. My uncle got this from a rusty nail too, and was near death in the hospital as a child, he recovered luckily but they told my grandma to go home, he was going to die. Get the shot, watch the area for infection.
2016-05-19 00:37:08 · answer #5 · answered by elenora 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any time you cut yourself on a nail or metal you should ger a tetanus shot as oxidation of the metal (rust) can cause problems also saliva in animal bites see docter or nurse and ask for one or if had before ask for a boster
2007-09-13 15:22:43 · answer #6 · answered by bob 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Around animal droppings or manure?-You 've got it already.
2007-09-13 15:21:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it can cause lockJaw
2007-09-13 15:21:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋