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Newark, NJ
A 20-year-old female asked:

A little bit of rust entered my skin and blood. i got a tetanus shot 11 years ago. am i at risk of developing tetanus?

1 doctor answer • 10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Hunter Handsfield
Dr. Hunter Handsfieldanswered
Infectious Disease 55 years experience
No risk, no worry: It isn't rust that causes tetanus. Tetanus bacteria often exist in dirty places (like soil and old nails) and usually can take hold only in deep wounds. The dirtin deep wounds is what leads some health education sources to mention rusty nails. But iron oxide (rust) in small amounts is harmless. (Your body is loaded with iron -- it give blood its red color!)
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Dr. Al Hegab and 8 doctors agree9 doctors agree

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Last updated Aug 19, 2019

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Iron

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