hamster bite.. tetnus?

[MrsGards]

Hey
as some of you will have seen from my hormonal thread about crying in the bathroom, my dd's hamster bit me last night and drew blood. I put a picture on FB earlier and lots of people were saying about having a tetnus jab if mine arnt up to date, none of them know im pregnant as i dont feel the need to share something very private to us. I dont remember the last time I had a jab, let alone what it was for. Do you think I need one and is it even safe to have a tetnus jab in pregnancy?

Thankyou

 

[maggie111]

If there's a real risk of tetanus you're better to have the jab than tetanus.

That said, I really doubt you'd get it from a hamster who presumably is a pet, never a wild hamster!

I'd speak to the doctor, but I really think you'll be ok - just keep the wound clean with anti-septic.

 

[CatherineK]

No. Your fine, unless visible signs of a bad infection (immediate swelling, etc)

 

[MindUtopia]

You can't catch tetanus from the animal itself, but from bacteria that enter the wound if it's not kept clean. So try to keep it well cleaned (with some sort of antibacterial wash or ointment) and covered with a sterile bandage. More than likely you're fine, but you could always check with your doctor to see when was the last time you've been vaccinated as it should probably be somewhere in your medical records. They usually say the jab lasts for 10 years, but it does start to wear off a bit towards the end. Incidentally, tetanus is one of the things included in the whooping cough combined vaccination that pregnant women are advised to get anyway at or after 28 weeks. So you might talk to your midwife or doctor to see if getting it early would be at all effective in preventing tetanus now if you had already been infected. More than likely, it might not offer enough protection to warrant getting it early (it's better for baby's immunity to whooping cough if you wait and get it in 3rd tri, so it's safe to get now, but the antibodies will transfer to baby's immune system better a little later), but it's worth asking to see what they'd recommend. Try not to worry though because more than likely you are fine. I've not always maintained a very up-to-date tetanus jab and I've been bitten by all sorts of things, sliced my hand on glass, stepped on a bottle cap in India and cut open my foot, etc. and I've never gotten sick, so your chances are probably small, especially if you've cared for the wound well.

 

[lily28]

You are still a little early in your tri to be able to say if tetatus shot is safe now, I know that you can get it at the end of 2nd tri and 3rd tri.
I had a tetanus shot & antibiotics (my hand was swollen badly) when I was bitten by a dog a few years back (3-4) so I'm covered from tetanus now. I don't know if it is the same with hamsters. You should call your doc, or at least the vet.

 

[MrsGards]

this is why i love this forum, always someone who knows the answer to the most ridiculous question!! Thankyou¬

 

[itsme122]

I think the fact that you bled after the bite eliminates most if the infection you could have gotten from the animal itself. Now you just have to keep it clean. But definitely give your doc a ring to set your mind at ease.

 

[amjon]

I NEVER had a tetanus shot and I've been bit by hamsters plenty of times. They don't carry tetanus. You do need to clean it as they do have other germs on their teeth. I would usually put either iodine or Neosporin cream on it and never had an issue.

 

[MrsGards]

Thankyou all x x