SHERYL, Vacation in Vietnam salon cut my foot, risks

[orchidlady]

In small Vietnamese town (midway between.Hanoi and Saigon) was getting a foot massage late last night and woman said she could get rid of my calluses.she said she would scrub them away showing me pumice stone, so I stupidly said OK.

Falling asleep, I was awakened.few minutes later when she cut my heel from a callus removing tool drawing.blood. while she got alcohol, iodine and bandage I looked at the tool. It showed.signs of wear but no rust.

I have been cleaning.it religiously with hydrogen peroxide, iodine and cloth tape closure as I get rash from the rubber edges of bandages in SE Asia.

Have not had tetanus shot in 15-20 years as I had severe reactions last two times in US(doctors first said bad batch but then if 2x probably allergy)so was told to avoid unless I get tetanus from horse serum I recall.

I come back Thursday morning very early so less than 4 days after. Will go to ER in Bangkok when I return.Will Paolo my closest hospital be OK or should I go to Bumringrad, St.Louis, BCH, etc?

Local hospital here not int'l certified and language is problem so would prefer to wait until I return if possible.

What are my risks,hepatitis, tetanus or? Should I get antibiotics? Do anything.Other than what I am doing.Staying.out of pool and.covering my foot with plastic bag when I shower.

Thanks

[Sheryl]

I think you should relax. A superficial cut like this (prabably more of a scrape that went to deep - has happened to me during pedicures too) , which bled, is not a risk of tetanus nor anything much else and you are already doing the right things to keep it clean. To transmit hepatitis etc it would have to have had blood from prior clients n it.

I don't think you need to go anywhere or take anything, just continue keeping it clean until it has healed.

[orchidlady]

Thanks couldn't sleep last night and had leg cramp in affected leg and imagined tetanus moving up leg. Mind plays tricks when you can't sleep!

[Hammock]

Better avoid these procedures in Asia which involve accidental bleedings, there is a very little chance to contract something nasty but risk still exists. Or bring your own razors, scissors to be sure.

Edited July 17, 2016 by Hammock

[chubby]

what were your exact symptoms to which Tetanus vaccine?

looks like your type of wound is not the type for which folks get the jab eg dirt or deep .

I'd probably stop using the H2o2, as that will slow down the healing

if your really worried, looks like there is a treatment that does not involve the vaccine

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1316.aspx?CategoryID=67&SubCategoryID=150

When to seek medical advice

You should contact your GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit if you're concerned about a wound, particularly if:

• the wound is deep
• the wound contains dirt or a foreign object
• you haven't been fully vaccinated against tetanus
• you're not sure whether you've been fully vaccinated against tetanus

[puukao]

great news, you will not die for 1 day

bad news, i should have told you this yesterday.

i know, old joke

[chubby]

I'd probably stop using the H2o2, as that will slow down the healing