Zenkitty,now that you know it's the bandage that was creating more trouble, gently cleanse the area and if possible apply Benedryl cream (some forms of anti-itch cream) to the irritated area. If you don't have the cream, then try a paste of water and baking soda and if possible take some Benedryl internally.

Also, see if you can get the new Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis combo for adults, I think they are referring to it as T-DAP or some such.

Zen, I was going to apologizing for bringing up Corpse Bride so soon after you were worried about your arm becoming all zombiefied and rotting, then thought, "If no one else thinks it, maybe I won't bring it to mind."

A friend just posted this: 15-year-old wrote a two page, persuasive essay to convince me to let him go to a sleep-over to which I had already said no. This essay contained citations in MLA style, including a citation for the Milgram's experiment, which supported his argument that by not being able to change my mind, I was "stunting the growth of society" and would be raising children that "will be easily brainwashed." I changed my mind...

Is tetanus really a common problem from cat scratches? I thought of that as environmental and commonly introduced by cuts from things like nails that were contaminated. Not that getting the vaccine isn't a good thing. It is. But cat scratches are known for the possibility of contracting bartonella. Which, sadly, does not mean that Hawkeye comes to visit. Mores the pity because Jeremy Renner has fabulous arms.

Which, sadly, does not mean that Hawkeye comes to visit

"Coulson, you've got to find out why I'm being fucking drawn to all these women with cat scratches! And stop them from annoying their cats into scratching them! Or make Ted Nugent show up instead of me!"

"Don't worry, Barton, I'll take care of it. I don't share."

Cat scratches often cause infections, but not so much tetanus. While it can enter the body through a scratch, tetanus is an anaerobic bacteria, so it's happiest in a puncture wound or dead tissue.

I keep my tetanus shots up to date because of my uneasy relationship with gravity and inanimate objects.

The non-latex use an adhesive that jacks my skin up worse than latex usually. Good times.

Cass, yes, that seems to be my skin also. Good times.

WS, having it uncovered for a few hours has been enough to stop the painful itching. I'll probably take a Benadryl when I finally go to bed. I'll ask for T-DAP, thanks for the info.

Zen, I was going to apologizing for bringing up Corpse Bride so soon after you were worried about your arm becoming all zombiefied and rotting

I didn't mind! It seemed an appropriate segue.

aurelia, I want to Like your post about the young essayist.

What is bartonella, if not a case of Hawkeye?

Ginger knows more about tetanus than I do, which is comforting. All I know is that the first time I got a really deep scratch from a cat, the doctor told me to get a tetanus shot.

What is bartonella, if not a case of Hawkeye?

Cat scratch fever. Which is a real thing.

I just figured that because we are discussing an actual cat scratch and those really do lead to nasty infections sometimes, we should focus on what is likely.

But staying up-to-date on tetanus is really a good idea anyway.

The last time a doctor told me to get a tetanus shot, it was because of cat related injuries, but those were bites, not just scratches.