Patient's question:
A female infant was delivered at home. Four days after birth, the baby has redness at the umbilicus, difficulty breathing, and other issues, with clenched jaw. If it's tetanus, do I need to get a tetanus shot and do a skin test? Is a skin test required for neonatal tetanus?Doctor's answer:
Newborns can receive tetanus antitoxin without undergoing a skin test. This is because newborns' bodies have not yet developed antigens. They will not have an allergic reaction. Newborns can contract tetanus. Before tetanus occurs, tetanus antitoxin is used for prevention. Currently, the baby is already sick, so there is no need to administer the cold antitoxin. Active treatment should be initiated. It is recommended to take the infant to a standard tertiary children's hospital as soon as possible for antiviral and smoke-free treatment.