Patient's question:
Today, while I was going to get a drink, I accidentally broke a glass cup. While cleaning it up, I cut my palm and made a cut about 3 centimeters long. Some blood came out, and I have applied medicine now. Do I still need to go to the hospital for this? Generally, when you get cut, do you need to get a tetanus shot?Doctor's answer:
If the wound is just a simple scrape, regardless of its length, as long as it's not very deep, there's generally no need for a tetanus shot. This is because Clostridium tetani, the bacterium that causes tetanus, is an anaerobic bacterium. In superficial wounds where it's easy to come into contact with oxygen, it's difficult for the bacterium to thrive. However, if the wound is deep, it's still recommended to administer tetanus antitoxin. Once tetanus is contracted, it can cause symptoms of generalized muscle spasms again.