I stepped on a nail, and my last tetanus shot was 18-20 yrs. ago. Can I wait till morning to go get another?

Question

Would it be OK to wait till morning to go and get a new tetanus shot, or do I need to rush up to the E.R. ......and sit there waiting for hours and hours?

Answer 1

You can wait to get the tetanus shot, but I'd take some preventive action tonight.  You can avoid a tetanus infection but still get a regular old infection from a puncture wound - there's a lot more bacteria out there than just tetanus.  If you have any Epsom salts on hand, dissolve them in as hot water as you can stand and soak your foot.  Most supermarkets and drugstores will have Epsom salts if you don't, and there's a drug store on every corner these days it seems.  

Answer 2

Depends on the nail I guess. If it was really dirty,old and rusty. I would go to the hospital and wait. The sooner you get the shot the better.

The chances of you getting lockjaw are probably slim but do you want to take a chance? If it was fairly clean and new I would wait until

tomorrow.

Answer 3

No..you should go get a shot..just to be on the safe side

Answer 4

You will probably be ok to wait until morning, but no longer than morning!  If you wake up and feel awkward/in pain, then go to the ER immediately

Answer 5

Go now, you never know how deep or if it's infected.  

Answer 6

No need to go to the ER.  Just get updated on Tetanus very soon.  With your regular doctor.  SOON.  Where you wearing shoes when you stepped on that nail?  My doctor told me that it's much worse to step on a nail with shoes on then it was with shoes off.  Something about a wierd bacteria thing. I'll take her word over anyone on YA. Go see the Doc, and be prepared for a golf ball sized swelling on the injection site.