Uneducated, ill-informed, ignorant, or lying doctors at the "best" hospital?

[CanadaSam]

The girlfriend fell down on a dirty road about 10 days ago, was treated at the so-called "best" hospital in Pattaya.

 

Today, she was complaining about pain when opening her mouth, and throat.

 

My layman's knowledge of a wound being infected with Tetanus results in this, as a first symptom.

 

So, rushed her to the same hospital.

 

Doctor dismissed the Tetanus possibility outright, by making 2 statements, first, it was too early for symptoms (10 days!) and second, the throat pain is not the first symptom of Tetanus.  Gave her some pain medicine and sent us home.

 

Now, I am PRAYING I, and the rest of the world, are not correct, but this one doctor, at this so-called "best" hospital is somehow, correct, against all information available on the internet.

 

God help any of us who may fall ill here in LOS!!!!

[msbkk]

1 hour ago, CanadaSam said:

The girlfriend fell down on a dirty road about 10 days ago, was treated at the so-called "best" hospital in Pattaya.

 

Today, she was complaining about pain when opening her mouth, and throat.

 

My layman's knowledge of a wound being infected with Tetanus results in this, as a first symptom.

 

So, rushed her to the same hospital.

 

Doctor dismissed the Tetanus possibility outright, by making 2 statements, first, it was too early for symptoms (10 days!) and second, the throat pain is not the first symptom of Tetanus.  Gave her some pain medicine and sent us home.

 

Now, I am PRAYING I, and the rest of the world, are not correct, but this one doctor, at this so-called "best" hospital is somehow, correct, against all information available on the internet.

 

God help any of us who may fall ill here in LOS!!!!

Maybe her mouth and throat pain is not related at all to her fall on a dirty road. 

[chickenslegs]

Take her to another hospital for a second opinion.

[Banana7]

Go to Bang Lamung hospital emergency! 

[dinsdale]

When was the last time she had a tetanus jab? Jaw pain could be many things including stress. Throat pain is indeed not a 1st symptom. Why was it determined not to give her a tetanus jab in the 1st place? 10 days isn't too early to become symptomatic. It's around the norm. Being that you seem to be in some sort of a panic why are you wasting what could be valuable time appealing for advice on here and not seeking a second opinion? It's interesting you diss the doctor and talk about the internet but the briefest of searches doesn't support your stance of having superior knowledge than the doctor.

[CanadaSam]

Thank you, yes, I was planning to take her to bangkok tomorrow, but because of some of your comments, we will try another hospital in Pattaya first.  Thank you all for valuable advice.

[chickenslegs]

11 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

When was the last time she had a tetanus jab?

Good point.

 

According to Google Thai kids get the tetanus jab routinely, at about 12 years old. Also, according to google, the jab lasts 10 years before needing a booster.

 

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I got a DTAP vaccine booster -- diptheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) -- at a private clinic in BKK earlier this week, after getting an accidental cut at home with a metal trimmer. It had been nearly 10 years since my last DTAP booster (which is the general life expectancy of the vaccine), so the doctor gave me the new booster shot just in case and because I was due.

 

From the clinics I checked with, I could have gotten just a plain tetanus-only booster shot and the price would have been under 500 baht... But I opted for the recommended multipurpose shot because I was due for that booster anyway. The broader shot here in BKK at the private clinic I used was 940b.

 

 

[connda]

If you're worried, go and get a second opinion.  Hopefully you're only badmouthing the doctor behind an avatar.  Defamation is criminal and Thais seem to like to play the defamation card. 

[connda]

The changes of getting tetanus in Thailand is about 1 in 100,000.  If she has ever had a tetanus shot she does have some immunity.  But - if you're worried, get that second opinion.  FYI, flu and upper respiratory infections are going around too.  It's probably something other than tetanus.  

[Patong2021]

Unless you know the circumstances of the fall, it is quite probable that she either pulled or sprained her soft tissue, or  struck her chin/jaw as she fell. You do not mention if she had an open or puncture wound. A fall without an open wound  would be most unlikely to result in tetanus. Most Thai people have had tetanus vaccination, and while their immunity may have  waned, there will still be some residue. Unless she had muscle spasms, fever and sweating with her symptoms, again unlikely to be tetanus.

 

As mentioned above, there is greater likelihood to be an upper respiratory tract infection than anything else, because there are a lot of colds (and covid)  circulating now.