Nasty cut gets nastier stitches

capt_mahajan · Apr 16th, 2007, 01:30

I am learning new and frightening things.

Always thought so far that relatively minor injuries and cuts were safe. Obviously, that was incorrect. And a thorn... have always ignored that so far

Noodle · Apr 16th, 2007, 01:52

Thanks Clive! I love to learn about things like that.

I had a tetanus shot two years ago.

ba9rn · Apr 16th, 2007, 03:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodle

I had a tetanus shot two years ago.

You'll be OK for another 8 years then.

Not sure about where you are, but my doctor has full records of my vaccinations and when they 'expire'. I did not realise this until I was offered (and accepted) a tetanus vaccination a couple of years ago (without being cut!).

Another reason why it tends to be gardners who are most affected, is that the bacteria like horse manure for some reason (as do roses!). See my post above (#7) for the current advice.

PeakXV · Apr 16th, 2007, 04:43

Can't tell you the number of times we got pricked/cut as children growing up in the North Woods. Our parents did nothing and always said the best thing was to "let the wound breath" ot "let it bleed". The only time there was even remote concern was if the wound required stitches and the only time the word tetanus was mentioned was if the puncture was made with a rusty object - who knows if it was sage doctoring but we all survived anywhoot!

Zeppy · Apr 16th, 2007, 05:29

In the U.S. they give you a tetanus shot every 10 years. If you are delivered to the emergency room bleeding and can't remember when you had the last one, it's the first thing they give you. I never really understood what could happen to you if you didn't have your shot until I stepped on a needle in Germany. The doctor who removed it from my foot asked me if I was up to date on my Wundestarrkrampf shot. The word is much more descriptive than "tetanus": it amounts to wound-stiffness-convulsion. Great... Makes you want to have the shot!

Nick-H · Apr 16th, 2007, 08:55

I used to read my mother's 1930s nursing books as a kid.

In those books, tetanus was almost always fatal --- I think it said that if the patient survived a week then they had a chance of recovery

. Of course, all that stuff was written before antibiotics so I guess medicine has moved on.

But we used to think it was deep wounds that were dangerous (that fork in the foot; been there, still got the scar if you look very closely).

Very educational, this thread

machadinha · Apr 16th, 2007, 11:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by capt_mahajan

I am learning new and frightening things.

Always thought so far that relatively minor injuries and cuts were safe. Obviously, that was incorrect. And a thorn... have always ignored that so far

Wait till they start about flesh-eating bacteria...

hawaiiyogagrl · Apr 16th, 2007, 15:14

So more about nasty cuts getting nastier-
Another woman from the same town as I am from was in Goa in March. She had a cut that she thought was no big deal. After one trip to the doctor, she was sent away and told that she was fine. A few days later, she died in the hospital because the cut had become "septic".
Cuts can be super- bad and should be taken seriously.

Noodle · Apr 16th, 2007, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by ba9rn

Not sure about where you are, but my doctor has full records of my vaccinations and when they 'expire'.

I'm in Pune and I have the records myself, a little yellow booklet I was given in London 15 years ago, which I take with me every time a booster is due.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeakXV

the only time the word tetanus was mentioned was if the puncture was made with a rusty object

Here is what Wiki has to say about the association with rust:

Quote:

Association with rust

Anecdotally, tetanus is often associated with rust, especially rusty nails, but this concept is somewhat misleading. Objects that accumulate rust are often found outdoors, or in places that harbor anaerobic bacteria, but the rust itself does not cause tetanus nor does it contain more C. tetani bacteria. The rough surface of rusty metal merely provides a prime habitat for a C. tetani endospore to reside. An endospore is a non-metabolising survival structure that begins to metabolise and cause infection once in an adequate environment. Because C. tetani is an anaerobic bacterium, it, and its endospores, will thrive in an environment that lacks oxygen. Hence, stepping on an old nail (rusty or not) may result in a tetanus infection, due to the ideal bacterial breeding ground provided by the low-oxygen environment of a puncture wound.

And cuts btw can also lead to tropical ulcers, another yummi topic. I know two people here in Pune who were battling them for many months.

Hey, I did the multiple quoting for the first time and successfully!

sirensongs · Apr 16th, 2007, 22:47

Quote:

Are these bacteria always in every soil and on every rose thorn? Or are they rather rare?

The classic way to get tetanus, at least where I come from (semi-country) is to accidentally puncture your finger or toe on rusty barbed-wire, which is usually surrounding livestock. In India a good way would be to step on a rusty nail/cut your foot or hand on dirty metal or glass, and there are normally plenty of animals and livestock and other dirt around to supply the bacteria!

Puncture wounds are the classic tetanus entry point.

Maz 1979 · Apr 17th, 2007, 02:19

Thanks for answering my question about what Tetanus actually is - I've had the jab a few times as in England it is one of the first things asked and was topped up a couple of years ago but never actually knew what I was being protected from. After following Noodles link (thanks) I'm mighty glad i did

Sama · Apr 17th, 2007, 02:55

years ago I put the spike of a "garden fork" (similar to a pitch fork) through the nail of one of my big toes while I was gardening -- trying to break up some clay soil so was using lots of force....ouch.....

went to the emergency room and the doc gave me a tetanus shot because as he told me "tetanus lives in the soil". he also said if you can't remember when your last tetanus shot was, that's the time to get another one.

Noodle · Apr 17th, 2007, 03:15

Off topic: Maz, Wikipedia is a great source of information on all topics on earth. Just go to the main page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page and type the subject you are looking for in the space on the left. E voila!

machadinha · Apr 17th, 2007, 04:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodle

Hey, I did the multiple quoting for the first time and successfully!

Congrats!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noodle

Off topic: Maz, Wikipedia is a great source of information on all topics on earth. Just go to the main page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page and type the subject you are looking for in the space on the left. E voila!

Yes, the downside is since it's open to all it's also to be taken with a big pinch of salt. Makes for easy quick reference though, you can always look on.

littletyger · Apr 17th, 2007, 04:28

Now I'm a little concerned about the accident I had during my visit. My tetanus shot is 7 years old. I need to make an appt for my 3rd hepatitus shot anyway, so I'll talk to the dr. then.

Yeah, I was getting off a train which had stopped, but suddenly jerked forward. I fell off and landed on the platform on my knees, one of which got shredded. I thought it was no big deal, washed it as soon as I was able and put anti-biotic ointment on it, but between the constant bending of the knee, rubbing against my pants and the hot sweaty weather it wasn't healing. Five days went by and I noticed that flies wouldn't leave it alone. That's when I went to the ayurvedic hospital. They rinsed it in some solution they made up and gave me an ointment and it showed improvement the very next day. It's all healed now except for the nerve endings, I guess, because it's still sensitive. I'll call the dr. tomorrow.

Apr 16th, 2007, 01:52	#32
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	Thanks Clive! I love to learn about things like that. I had a tetanus shot two years ago. __________________ If in hole stop digging. Indian saying

Apr 16th, 2007, 04:43	#34
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,515	Can't tell you the number of times we got pricked/cut as children growing up in the North Woods. Our parents did nothing and always said the best thing was to "let the wound breath" ot "let it bleed". The only time there was even remote concern was if the wound required stitches and the only time the word tetanus was mentioned was if the puncture was made with a rusty object - who knows if it was sage doctoring but we all survived anywhoot! __________________ What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Apr 16th, 2007, 08:55	#36
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 28,426	I used to read my mother's 1930s nursing books as a kid. In those books, tetanus was almost always fatal --- I think it said that if the patient survived a week then they had a chance of recovery . Of course, all that stuff was written before antibiotics so I guess medicine has moved on. But we used to think it was deep wounds that were dangerous (that fork in the foot; been there, still got the scar if you look very closely). Very educational, this thread __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Apr 17th, 2007, 02:19	#41
Maz 1979 Monkey Bait Join Date: May 2004 Location: London Posts: 151	Thanks for answering my question about what Tetanus actually is - I've had the jab a few times as in England it is one of the first things asked and was topped up a couple of years ago but never actually knew what I was being protected from. After following Noodles link (thanks) I'm mighty glad i did __________________ India

Apr 17th, 2007, 02:55	#42
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,545	tetanus years ago I put the spike of a "garden fork" (similar to a pitch fork) through the nail of one of my big toes while I was gardening -- trying to break up some clay soil so was using lots of force....ouch..... went to the emergency room and the doc gave me a tetanus shot because as he told me "tetanus lives in the soil". he also said if you can't remember when your last tetanus shot was, that's the time to get another one. __________________ *My India, 2005-2008* sama: Pali/Sanskrit: that state of consciousness which reflects neither attachment nor aversion

Apr 16th, 2007, 01:30	#31
capt_mahajan Dis member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,875	I am learning new and frightening things. Always thought so far that relatively minor injuries and cuts were safe. Obviously, that was incorrect. And a thorn... have always ignored that so far

Apr 16th, 2007, 05:29	#35
Zeppy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Paris Posts: 179	In the U.S. they give you a tetanus shot every 10 years. If you are delivered to the emergency room bleeding and can't remember when you had the last one, it's the first thing they give you. I never really understood what could happen to you if you didn't have your shot until I stepped on a needle in Germany. The doctor who removed it from my foot asked me if I was up to date on my Wundestarrkrampf shot. The word is much more descriptive than "tetanus": it amounts to wound-stiffness-convulsion. Great... Makes you want to have the shot!

Apr 16th, 2007, 15:14	#38
hawaiiyogagrl Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts: 241	So more about nasty cuts getting nastier- Another woman from the same town as I am from was in Goa in March. She had a cut that she thought was no big deal. After one trip to the doctor, she was sent away and told that she was fine. A few days later, she died in the hospital because the cut had become "septic". Cuts can be super- bad and should be taken seriously.

Apr 17th, 2007, 03:15	#43
Noodle Crazy for the furry ones Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Pune, India Posts: 1,026	Off topic: Maz, Wikipedia is a great source of information on all topics on earth. Just go to the main page here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page and type the subject you are looking for in the space on the left. E voila!

Apr 17th, 2007, 04:28	#45
littletyger Burning bright! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 36	Now I'm a little concerned about the accident I had during my visit. My tetanus shot is 7 years old. I need to make an appt for my 3rd hepatitus shot anyway, so I'll talk to the dr. then. Yeah, I was getting off a train which had stopped, but suddenly jerked forward. I fell off and landed on the platform on my knees, one of which got shredded. I thought it was no big deal, washed it as soon as I was able and put anti-biotic ointment on it, but between the constant bending of the knee, rubbing against my pants and the hot sweaty weather it wasn't healing. Five days went by and I noticed that flies wouldn't leave it alone. That's when I went to the ayurvedic hospital. They rinsed it in some solution they made up and gave me an ointment and it showed improvement the very next day. It's all healed now except for the nerve endings, I guess, because it's still sensitive. I'll call the dr. tomorrow. __________________ Member: Daler Mehndi Fan Club, yo!

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