What should I do if my child steps on a rusty nail and hasn't had a tetanus shot?

Parents who have chosen to not immunize their children have a responsibility to know the answer to this question before their child steps on the 'rusty nail.' Tetanus is a potentially fatal disease that can strike healthy individuals. During the 1960s when people were vaccinated less than currently, Drs. Skudder and McCarrol wrote in the Journal of the American Medical Association, "Good wound care is probably the single most important factor in the prevention of tatenus in fresh wounds."

The classic injury for tetanus is the puncture wound (a wound that is deeper than it is wide). The risk of exposure to tetanus is increased if one is around horses or live on a farm. If a child is unvaccinated and has an injury that requires tetanus prevention he or she can receive the Tetanus Immune Globulin shot (TIG) which offers protection if received up to 72 hours following the injury. Currently the TIG shot is licensed for children 7 years and older. This injection is considered 'passive immunity' and will not protect the person from further injuries like the series of tetanus toxoid series which provides protection for approximately 10 years.

In addition to the TIG injection or tetanus shot, I also follow up by giving two homeopathic medicines, Ledum palustre and Hypericum perforatum (3 tablets twice a day for 2-3 days depending on the extent of the injury). They are used for puncture wounds and will aid in the healing.