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Thursday, January 8, 2015

Infections and diseases through Cuts, Wounds, and Scratches

Cuts, Wounds, and Scratches

Because these are potential portals -of entry for infectious organisms, they should be washed promptly with soap and water and covered with sterile gauze; a Band-Aid will do if the cut is small. Any cut that penetrates deeply may heal better if sewn together. If in doubt, let your doctor or the nearest hospital emergency room decides for you; otherwise you may blame yourself later for an unsightly scar. 

A serious danger from wounds and deep scratches is tetanus, or lock- jaw. The tetanus germ is commonly found in soil and wherever there are horses, cattle, and manure. It is also found in the dust of city streets. A deep puncture by a nail can be serious. Although many people think it is the rust on a nail that may cause trouble, this is not true; it's the germs on the nail that constitute the danger. The best preventive measure for tetanus is immunization.

Tetanus toxoid provides immunity for several years. For anyone who has not been so immunized, a deep wound or scratch calls for use of tetanus anti- toxin (TAT) as an emergency measure to prevent tetanus. It is available in hospital emergency rooms, infirmaries, and first-aid stations. While T AT provides protection, it does cause unpleasant reactions in some people, and doctors will test the patient for possible sensitivity to the horse serum with which TAT is made.


Tetanus toxoid does not produce unpleasant reactions, another reason why you should take this important safety measure in advance of any possible accident. Take Reasonable Precautions We hope that this chapter motivates you-through understanding rather than just admonition-to take sensible precautions against infection. Make it a way of life simply not to drink out of glasses, eat out of dishes, or use the towels that others have used; to stay, as much as possible, away from sneezers and coughers; and to keep yourself and your home fastidiously clean. 

There is no need to go to extremes, to become a fanatic on the subject of germs. Some people do, devoting themselves to almost constant scrubbing, boiling, sterilizing of food, home, and their own person. They spray their noses and throats and the air about them with antiseptics, shun others, wage a constant battle against contamination. This is neither necessary nor effective. It is unnecessary because, where germs are concerned, the odds favor us. Most organisms are harmless. 

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