Hi,I am Dr. Carol Rogala (Emergency Medicine). I will be looking into your question and guiding you through the process. Please write your question below.
I stepped on a rusty nail that only went through my shoe enough to give me a pin prick hole on the meat part of the ball of my foot below my big toe. There was just a pin spot of blood noticeable below the skin. Nothing drizzled out. I poured peroxide over it. Then when I got home a couple hours later. I washed jmy foot good in the shower and dried it. Then dabbed more peroxide over the spot, which I couldn't see anymore, but could sense the slight nag pain where the nail touched. Then dried and applied neosporin and covered with a bandaid. I had a tetanus shot 4 1/2 years ago I believe. I am waiting for my doctors nurse to call me back as she is looking for my file to make sure that I actually did get one at the time I think I did. Do you think I should get another tetanus shot anyway or what should I do and look out for?
Tue, 8 Jul 2014
Emergency Medicine Specialist, Dr. Prathap's Response
Hi... Tetanus has no cure. even a small wound over the body due to rusty nail, soil have relatively high chance of tetanus. it is advisible to take a tetanus injection, it is a prophylactic drug, hence this injection is not for the current injury it is to pervent tetanus infection due to next injury. for the fresh wound take tetanus immunoglobulin injection which may prevent the current wound injection. But in your scenario it may not be required take a tetglob injection. the primary wound care which u have given is adequate and do take inj .Tetanus toxoid.
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Does The Nail Injury Need Another Tetanus Shot?
Hi... Tetanus has no cure. even a small wound over the body due to rusty nail, soil have relatively high chance of tetanus. it is advisible to take a tetanus injection, it is a prophylactic drug, hence this injection is not for the current injury it is to pervent tetanus infection due to next injury. for the fresh wound take tetanus immunoglobulin injection which may prevent the current wound injection. But in your scenario it may not be required take a tetglob injection. the primary wound care which u have given is adequate and do take inj .Tetanus toxoid.