Do I need a tetnus shot?

Factual Questions
1

I was at my parents house this weekend and we tore apart my parents sundeck.

I was scratched and poked with 3-4 rusty nails. Do I need a tetnus shot?

What happens if I don’t get one? How long will I know if I need one?

MtM

2

A light scratch is probably nothing to worry about, as long as it bled fairly freely. Being “poked” is no big deal, either… but a deep puncture, on the other hand, could be trouble; this is your typical “rusty nail” wound. Tetanus is anaerobic; if it gets deep enough into your flesh, where oxygen can’t get to it, it’s in a great position to reproduce and spread out.

If you have contracted tetanus, and you do NOT get a tetanus shot, you are in for some trouble. Tetanus, or “lockjaw,” causes serious muscle spasms, including a tendency for the jaws to lock shut, hence the name. Muscle spasms and contractions are INVOLUNTARY, which means you are going to be one sore sick jerky puppy for a while.

If someone finds you, twitching and thrashing, likely they will call the hospital and you will spend some time strapped to a bed. Muscle contractions are so severe, broken bones are not unknown. They’ll likely have to feed you on a liquid diet.

It’s usually not FATAL, though, so after a few extremely painful and uncomfortable weeks, you’ll be okay. Assuming you didn’t break any bones or crush your teeth or something, that is.

If you’re worried, go and get a tetanus shot NOW. It takes at least two or three weeks to show symptoms, and once you start twitchin’ and dancin’, it’s too late.

3

I wouldn’t say “too late”… according to this information Tetanus is only fatal 11% of the time. It may require hospitalization and is certainly unpleasant.

If you’ve been boosted in the past 10 years, you’re also pretty much okay.

http://www.nfid.org/factsheets/tetanusadult.html

I’m getting by booster on Thursday. C’mon, all the cool kids are doing it!

4

The rule is every 10 years, but a booster earlier if a “tetanus prone wound” occurs after 6 years from previous booster. A scratch or poke is not a tetanus prone wound, a deep puncture would is.

5

Tetanus shots are also recommended for folks with diabetes, since an injury can happen to the foot and not be noticed.

6

My doctor made me get another one and it had only been **five ** years since my last booster, in the case of a puncture wound. “Just to be on the safe side”, but those SOB’s hurt.

7

Tetanus shots no longer hurt, why not get one?

8

And it’s not just rusty nails that you shoudl worry about. Any deep puncture is a problem. I had some very bad glass cuts in my hand from breaking a window (took 46 stitches to close, because the doc was being very careful for cosmetic reasons- still looks icky though…) and I had to have a tetanus booster.

Get one, just to be on the safe side.