Patient's question:
The child is 5 months old. Yesterday, when I went for a bath, the child accidentally bumped into something and got a bruise on their face with a small amount of bleeding. The family is a bit worried, so they asked me to consult and see if a tetanus shot is needed.What kind of assistance is needed: The baby has a bruise on their face. Do they need a tetanus shot?
Doctor's answer:
Bacteria have antitoxin, making it difficult for them to survive in the air. Bruises should be fine, only easily contagious if the wound is deep. It depends on what caused the bruise. If it's just from a regular object, it's no big deal, as long as it's not rusted iron or something. Moreover, babies around 5 months old have likely received the DTP vaccine, which includes pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus.