Should I go to hospital for tetanus shot?

[Dannyandsandy]

Was in my garden today and I scrapped my leg on a rusty blunt part of my wheelbarrow. A little concerned as obviously rust and wounds aren’t great! There was a little speck of blood but I don’t think it cut through all the way to the skin. I was away from the tap but had hand sanitiser so I quickly put sanitiser on the wound and then within half an hour I was able to clean the wound and put on savlon etc. It’s quite sore. Had the DTP shot last year as I was travelling this time last year. Does anyone know if this means I need another tetanus shot? Is this less effective than a pure tetanus shot? Feel like I will wasting doctors time if I go in to the hospital. It’s a few hours later and still a little sore and raised but I guess that’s the case with any cut :S

Tetanus shots last for more than a year.

Your tetanus shot will still be valid but you could phone them to check.

it says on my travel card it is valid until 2029 but I’m not sure if a dtp shot is less effective than a pure tetanus shot. Probably overthinking this. I’m sure I’ll be fine. Thanks all.

The tetanus injection given in A&E is a combined booster the same as you will have had for travel. They last 10 years so no need for another one (ex A&E nurse)

Don't think you can get a separate one? Aren't they all DTP now?

The vax last 10 years, plus sounds very superficial to worry about tetanus.

it says on my travel card it is valid until 2029

Well that's your question answered then.

Aside from that, there was a tiny speck of blood, so hardly a cut worthy of a tetanus anyway! Clean it and carry on with your day!

Thanks all. I’ll be fine.

You should be fine, as pp's have said, it lasts ten years. I stabbed a fork into my foot last year, through my wellies, (barffff), and it came up all red and puffy, but I went to the GP nurse, they can do emergency shots as well.

I was thinking the same as you, as I was bitten three times by a mouse the other day, but in the end all was fine. It has gone down and is not red, it bled like hell though. Bloody mouse, saved it's life as well.

There’s no ‘pure tetanus shot’ - DTP is what is given routinely in this situation and it lasts for ten years. You don’t need another one now.

Tetanus, even in a combined vaccine lasts 10yrs.

Even IF you needed another, why would you go to a hospital? A GP or walk-in-centre/minor injury unit can do this!

You don't need a tetanus jab. They last forever. You will not be given anything for that minor injury.

Well not forever! But a significant time period.

Baaaahhhh I was bitten by a mouse three times
Sorry but this made me laugh, just wondering how it came to bite you 3 times? 😂

Nannewnannew Glad I made you laugh - we need some lols at the moment!

I'm usually really good at catching them, the cat brings them in daily. Usually I can cup them in my hands, or grab their tails, and hang them upside down. This little bugger was really fast so I grabbed him round the waist which meant he could bend over and sink his fangs into my index finger. That was the one that really hurt, and was really deep. I managed to prise him off that finger, only for him to then latch on to my ring finger, and then my thumb. Little bastard. I threw him through the cat flap in a rage, I hope he got a headache, or subsequently got eaten. Would serve him right .

I'm a gardener and was advised to have a tetanus shot in advance of any injuries I might sustain. The practice nurse explained that they only give them these days for really dirty wounds.

I had to go to a travel clinic for mine (drs surgery didn't have any in stock) after I got attacked by a cat

So it just added insult (had to pay £30 for the jab) to injury (had to take x2 types of AB for 10 days)

Tetanus grows in the absence of oxygen so deep wounds that are dirty and don't bleed or those with poor circulation, intravenous drug users and serious burn victims are at risk. If the wound is not deep and you have managed to clean it, it should be fine from a tetanus perspective, obviously make sure its clean and keep an eye on it. That vaccine given at the time of a wound in unlikely to protect against tetanus as the vaccine takes longer to build antibodies than the bacteria would take to infect so tetanus immunoglobulin is usually given instead if tetanus is suspected. The combined vaccine (no individual vaccine) is given as prevention and should be updated every 10 years. There are fewer than 10 cases reported annually in the UK and often these people are born before 1961 when routine immunisation was introduced.

Last year I was badly bitten and scratched by a rampant rabbit (of the small furry kind). I called my surgery and the duty Dr said as I was over 50, I would have had enough boosters to last me my lifetime so should be fine.

OP - im sure you'll be absolutely fine but if the wound gets infected or red starts to travel, give your Dr a call as You may need antibiotics.

Baaaahhhh what an ungrateful little critter! It wasn’t Danger mouse by any chance? I just love that you do try and save them from the cat though. 🙂

DH stepped on a nail last year and urgent care gave him DTP. The combination vaccine is fine. I don't think they do a separate one for tetanus anymore, or a least stock it in most clinics.