ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013. Will definitely get a shot today! Did you know you can read expert answers for this article? They just need a puncture to get inside the body, and a scratch is more than sufficient for them to do their work. Official resource database of the world-leading Johns Hopkins Hospital. ", "This let me know if I should get a shot or not. Better safe than sorry—if you're particularly worried about being infected with tetanus, just get the vaccination. Tetanus vaccines can completely prevent tetanus. After the initial series of shots, it’s recommended that adolescents get a booster shot between the ages of 11 and 18, and that adults receive a tetanus booster every ten years. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017. As a child, you must have received tetanus vaccine along with a combination (Tdap) that protects against diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough). Don’t miss out on the latest updates. If the wound was caused by a cat or a dog, try to confirm that its rabies vaccination is up to date. Tetanus is the name of a disease caused when the bacterium Clostridium tetani enters the body. Addressed different types of wounds likely to cause tetanus, number of years from last, "I stepped on a piece of broken glass and cannot remember my last tetanus shot, so will be getting one just to be, "I just had a minor accident two hours ago. No. There are a lot of people who avoid visiting a clinic for minor health problems as such, but never forget to take a ‘tetanus shot’ after stepping on a rusty nail or after getting a deep cut or wound. Ayurveda for asthma: Effective remedies that work wonders, Apple cider vinegar: Top 5 health benefits for women, 5 reasons why you’re not losing fat around your midsection. That’s why a booster dose is necessary. Do I need a tetanus shot for this? With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus. Serious kind of fractures where the bone gets exposed. Pay attention to whether the object that caused your wound is clean or dirty to decide whether you need a tetanus booster. As explained earlier, the spores of c. tetany can easily enter a wound as they are abundantly available everywhere. All rights reserved. Yes. Alice! Don’t get paranoid: Getting COVID-19 from bank notes is a rare possibility, Dutch woman dies of COVID-19 reinfection: Experts say second infection could be more dangerous. You're not sure if the wound was caused by a “clean” or “dirty” object and your last tetanus shot was over 5 years ago. Wounds that have foreign bodies, such as splinters, glass shards, gravel, or other objects in them are at higher risk for infection. A cut or wound is a good opportunity for the bacteria to enter the body and flourish. There seems to be a misconception about tetanus — it isn’t the rust that causes the infection, rather it’s a type of bacteria, Clostridium tetani, that's on the rusty nail that causes the infection. All people between the ages of 11 and 18 are advised to get the booster, preferably around 11 or 12 years old. Both vaccines last 10 years. TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. A cut or wound is a good opportunity for the bacteria to enter the body and flourish. Here’s more information on how, Burn wounds that may need surgery. Well done. Skin burns. The date of your last tetanus booster should be found in your immunization records at your doctor's office.