Stepped on a Nail do need tetnis?

Question

My daughter stepped on a small nail outside, dont no if it was rusty becasue we cant find it. To look at the bottom of her foot cant really see the site it went in, other then a small red spot that can hardly be seen. She is twelve years old, and is fully caught up on immunizations. Does she need a tetnus shot?

Answer 1

Yes, whenever you step on a nail or any kind of rusty metal or get an animal bite you should get a tetanus booster shot. Better to be safe than sorry.

Hope she will be okay.

Answer 2

If it didn't break the skin an inner inside, she does not need one. Just put some peroxide on it, wipe it clean. Use some alcohol to sterilize the area, put a little Neosporin on it and cover with a small band-aid.She should be just fine. By the way you describe the sight, it didn't go in. Did it bleed? If not, again it didn't go in. So I wish the best for your precious daughter and you to quit worrying, she's fine. Good luck.  

Answer 3

when was her last tetanus shot ? if I'm not mistaken ..it's good for 7 years ..so she must still be protected  

Answer 4

She is not at risk for tetanus from that wound, and she does not need a shot.

If she is caught up on her immunizations, that means she probably got a tetanus shot at age 5 right before kindergarten. That means she isn't due for another one until age 15.  The shots are protective for 10 years.  If they weren't protective for 10 years, they would recommend them more often than that.  But they don't.

There are only 20-100 cases of tetanus per year in the United States.  That's a pretty small number, considering how many people step on nails, get cuts, burns, etc.  Also, old people and heroin users are more at risk for tetanus than the general population, so that's another thing in your daughter's favor.  Tetanus kills approximately 11% of the people who get it.  That's a lot, but a lot less than 100%, which is what most people incorrectly believe.

Excess tetanus antibodies (which your daughter would get if she got the shot too often) put people at higher risk for autoimmune diseases.  So the shot is not a harmless thing.

Answer 5

yes a booster shot is indicated