Question
A 20-month-old child’s right thumb tip and back of the finger have sustained an injury resembling a cut, with a relatively deep wound but minimal bleeding. The wound has been initially disinfected with iodine tincture and bandaged with gauze. Since the injury was caused by an iron door, and the child has received three doses of DTP vaccine, including last year’s Changchun Changsheng and Wuhan Bioproducts, the parents are considering whether an additional fourth dose of DTP vaccine is necessary. At the same time, they are puzzled about whether a booster dose of tetanus vaccine is needed.
Answer
The treatment of the wound should be determined based on its depth in deciding whether to administer a tetanus vaccine. If the wound is deep, it is recommended to administer a tetanus vaccine, as tetanus bacteria are anaerobic and can only survive in oxygen-free environments, typically requiring a deeply closed environment. It is suggested to visit a pediatric surgery clinic for further assessment of the wound condition. I hope these suggestions will be helpful to you, and wish you a speedy recovery!