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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your wound is small and clean but you're concerned about infection or your immunization status, start by seeing your family doctor. If your wound is severe or you're experiencing symptoms of tetanus infection (or your infant is), seek emergency care.
What you can do
If possible, let your doctor know the following information:
- When, where and how you received the injury (or any recent injury, if a wound isn't obvious)
- Your immunization status, including when you received your last tetanus booster shot (a record of immunization would be helpful)
- How you've been caring for the wound
- Any chronic illness or pre-existing condition you may have, such as diabetes, heart disease or pregnancy
- If seeking care for an infant, let your doctor know the mother's country of origin, her immunization status and how long she's been in the United States
For tetanus, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What is the best course of action?
- What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
- I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
- Do I need to see a specialist?
- Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
- Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend visiting?
What to expect from your doctor
If a wound is obvious, your doctor will inspect it. He or she will likely ask you a number of questions, including:
- Have you experienced any symptoms and, if so, when did they start?
- Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
- How severe are your symptoms?
- What, if anything, seems to improve or worsen your symptoms?
- When were you last vaccinated for tetanus and what type of vaccine did you receive?
- Have you recently had a wound (if not obvious)?
- Tetanus: Questions and answers. Immunization Action Coalition. http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4220.pdf. Accessed Aug. 18, 2010.
- Facts about tetanus for adults. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. http://www.nfid.org/pdf/factsheets/tetanusadult.pdf.
- Sexton DJ. Tetanus. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 18, 2010.
- Kretsinger K, et al. Tetanus. In: Roush SW, et al. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 4th ed. Atlanta, Ga.: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2008. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt16-tetanus.htm. Accessed Aug. 18, 2010.
- Tetanus. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec14/ch178/ch178i.html. Accessed Aug. 20, 2010.
- Diphtheria, tetanus & pertussis vaccines: What you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-dtap.pdf. Accessed Aug. 20, 2010.
- Tetanus, diphtheria (Td) or tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine: What you need to know. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-td-tdap.pdf. Accessed Aug. 20, 2010.
- Emergency wound care after a natural disaster. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/woundcare.asp. Accessed Aug. 20, 2010.
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