Do you need a tetanus shot for a scraped skin?

Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
Updated on November 25, 2024
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Tetanus bacterial infection generally refers to relatively deeper wounds. A deeper wound creates an anaerobic environment locally, where tetanus-causing bacteria can reproduce and grow, leading to infection. If the wound is just a scrape and not deep, it's less likely to form an anaerobic environment. In such cases, the likelihood of developing tetanus is extremely low. From personal experience, if it's just a minor scrape, simply disinfecting the area with iodine is sufficient; there is generally no need for a tetanus antitoxin injection.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
General Surgery
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Can I eat tomatoes after a tetanus shot?

You can eat tomatoes after receiving a tetanus shot. There are two types of tetanus injections: tetanus toxoid, which requires a skin test, and tetanus immunoglobulin, which does not require a skin test. If you are to receive the tetanus toxoid, it is essential to perform a skin test beforehand. If an allergy is present, its use is prohibited. Furthermore, it is advised to abstain from alcohol before getting a tetanus shot to avoid any skin redness caused by drinking, which can affect the outcome of the skin test, leading to a failure in the indication for the tetanus injection. There are no contraindications regarding eating tomatoes after a tetanus shot. It is generally recommended to get the tetanus shot within 24 hours after injury.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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What are the chances of getting tetanus?

In clinical practice, the chances of tetanus are relatively low. Tetanus is mainly caused by infection with the tetanus bacillus. Since the tetanus bacillus is an anaerobic bacterium and is found almost everywhere in nature, patients with injuries, especially small and deep wounds, are prone to tetanus infection. Therefore, for wounds with injuries, especially deep ones, it is important to promptly administer a tetanus shot to prevent infection. At the same time, thorough debridement of the wound is necessary to completely eliminate the tetanus bacillus from the wound. If prevention or proper wound cleaning is not effectively carried out, there is a potential risk of tetanus infection.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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How to rescue from tetanus allergy

In clinical settings, when administering tetanus injections, it is very easy for allergic reactions to occur, even severe complications like anaphylactic shock. In such cases, the following emergency measures can be taken: First, establish an intravenous access immediately, then start the patient on infusion therapy; Second, if the patient experiences a drop in blood pressure, vasopressor agents can be used for pressor therapy; Third, it's essential to provide the patient with cardiac monitoring, oxygenation, and other supportive treatments. In addition, it's crucial to use anti-allergy medications. There are many anti-allergic drugs available clinically, and the specific medication to be used should be decided based on the patient's specific condition. (Please administer medications under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not self-medicate.)

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Written by Zhang Peng
General Surgery
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What are the circumstances in which a tetanus shot should not be administered?

Tetanus is a strict anaerobic bacterium. Clinically, for deeper contaminated wounds, especially those contaminated by soil or punctured by rusty iron objects, an active injection of tetanus vaccine is recommended. Generally, for superficial scratches or clean and shallow wounds, as long as proper wound cleaning is performed, it is usually not necessary to administer a tetanus shot. For patients who have completed a full course of immunization or booster immunization within the last ten years and have high antibody levels in the body, if the wound is small, superficial, and free of foreign bodies or necrotic tissue residue, it is not necessary to inject the tetanus vaccine. For wounds that are larger, deeper, and heavily contaminated, with substantial residues of foreign bodies and necrotic tissue, or in cases where thorough wound cleaning is not achievable, an enhanced injection of tetanus antitoxin or immunoglobulin should be administered.

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Written by Ai Bing Quan
General Surgery
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What department should I go to for tetanus?

Tetanus is a special type of infection that should be treated through routine surgery or emergency surgery. It is caused by the tetanus bacillus, an anaerobic bacterium typically found in feces. Tetanus is easily contracted after an injury, especially in deep wounds. Clinically, tetanus manifests initially with difficulty in opening the mouth, followed by a grimacing smile, convulsions, and respiratory difficulties later on. Preventive measures include going to the hospital immediately after an injury to have the wound cleaned at the department of general surgery or emergency surgery and concurrently receiving a tetanus serum injection.