Is it to early to tell if I have tetanus?!
Question: Is it to early to tell if I have tetanus?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co…
but didn't think anything of it until I looked the symptoms of tetanus up.
Like I said, it's only been about 36 hours since I received the punctured wound, but I'm not sure how long it takes for initial symptoms to develop.
Thanks.
Answers:
Yes, it's too early.
The incubation period for tetanus is 2 days to 2 months. If your last tetanus shot was within the last 10 years, you would be protected. Tetanus shots need boosters every 8 - 10 years to remain active. You really should stay current on this shot; tetanus is not anything to aspire suffering from.
There are other germs that lead to serious infection besides. Keep the area clean with normal saline and keep a dry gauze dressing on it. Change whenever soiled or wet. See a physician if the swelling or pain worsens, or you see a pus/discharge from the wound.
RN
You can start to show symptoms between 3-8 days, but that doesn't mean that's what you have. How long has it been since you had a tetanus shot? You are supposed to get boosters for the vaccine every 10 years. If you haven't had one in that time (your doctor will have a record of it if you don't know), or even if it's been 7 or more years since you had it, you can make an appointment with your doctor to get another booster. And let them know what happened, and how you're feeling.
You could go to the hospital to get an emergency booster too, but if your insurance doesn't cover it, that could get expensive for you. Still, if you really feel you're getting the symptoms, the cost of an emergency room visit (if you can't get in to see your doctor quickly) is nothing compared to the cost of your life.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/tetanus/…
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tetan…
tetanus can set in really fast and lock your jaws up if your tetanus is not up to date go to the er and get one before you end up with locked jaws and blood poisoning