Calm me down about tetanus

[ocdstress]

20 month old has got a small scratch that didn’t bleed on her hand from a carpet nail (pulling up an old carpet in the house we’ve bought and she broke into the room while I was talking to dh round the corner of the door) she fell and hurt her hand on one of the little spikes/nails poking out. Absolutely freaking out now she’s going to develop tetanus, we washed it and put some sanitiser on it. I have ocd and keep getting intrusive thoughts

Anyone ?!

Tetanus is an anaerobic bacteria that can not reproduce in the presence of oxygen. It lives in the soil and in manure. Cases of tetanus occur in deep puncture wounds that do not bleed where there is compromised blood circulation or a compromised immune systems. Severe burns victims and people with diabetes which impacts circulation are at greater risk.

The rusty nail idea is only a risk when there is soil or manure involved.. when we lived closer to the land and animals risks were much higher.

Healthy young people and clean wounds are extremely low risk.

I'm pretty sure Tetanus is in the vaccine schedule so I really wouldn't be worried about tetanus. You've washed her hands so reduced the risk of any bacteria getting in. If you're still worried call 111 🙂

I am sorry that your ocd condition is causing you distress. What strategies do you have to help in these situations? As a parent, there are many situations that we find ourselves in.

There you go- if she had her vaccines then she's protected!

Deep breath @ocdstress If you little one has had her vaccines they should be immune to tetanus. Also it lurks in soil and other dirty places not on carpet tacks. All will be well

oh my god thank you for replying, I absolutely hate ocd it ruins my life, any rational thinking goes out the window and I can never ‘trust my gut’ as I don’t know what is anxiety talking to me !
she’s had all her immunisations to date so isn’t fully vaccinated but has had all the ones she’s supposed to for her age.

Assuming you aren’t anti-vax, she’ll be up to date on her tetanus jab. I can’t tell you how many shards of rusty metal mine have fallen on over the years. I’ve sliced my foot open on broken beer bottles at the beach a number of times. Never developed tetanus (anyway, it’s perfectly treatable) as always up to date on my jabs.

What treatment have you had for the ocd?

Then she has had 3 doses of anti-tetanus vaccine and will be immune. Relax and breathe, all is well.

Has she had a tetanus vaccine?

So she doesn’t need to go to hospital ? I’m guessing as she’s had her immunisations they would just clean it anyway which we have done

What treatment have you had? If none you must seek help before this affects your child. Why would you take her to hospital?

I’ve had countless cbt sessions and I am medicated, it does work well for my checking ocd but the instrusive thoughts about my kids it doesn’t seem to work for