Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T03:27:56.295Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Tetanus: lest we forget

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2015

Kenneth C. Dittrich  and
Bashar Keilany
Kenneth C. Dittrich*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Bashar Keilany
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
*
King Fahad National Guard Hospital, PO Box 22490 Riyadh, 11426, Saudi Arabia, [email protected]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Tetanus is a life threatening infection that is rarely encountered in clinical practice. Knowledge of the condition is necessary to ensure optimal management. A 30-year-old male presented with classic signs and symptoms of the disease, including trismus, risus sardonicus, paroxysmal muscle spasms and autonomic instability. The pathophysiology and modern management of this condition are reviewed.

Keywords

tetanustraumatrismus
Type
Case Report • Observations
Information
Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , January 2001 , pp. 47 - 50
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians 2001

References

1.Ernst, M, Klepser, ME, Fouts, M, Marangos, MN.Tetanus: patho-physiology and management. Ann Pharmacother 1997;31:1507–13.Google Scholar
2.CDC Surveillance Summaries. Tetanus surveillance: United States, 1995–1997. MMWR 1998;47:1–13.Google Scholar
3.Gergen, PJ, McQuillan, GM, Kiely, M, Ezzati-Rice, TM, Sutter, RW, Virella, G.A population based serologic survey of immunity to tetanus in the United States. NEJM 1995;332:761–6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Kefer, PK.Tetanus. Am J Emerg Med 1992;10:445–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.American College of Emergency Physicians, Scientific Review Committee. Tetanus immunization recommendations for persons seven years of age and older. Ann Emerg Med 1986;15:1111–2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Trujillo, MH, Castillo, A, Espana, J, Manzo, A, Zerpa, R.Impact of intensive care management on the prognosis of tetanus: analysis of 641 cases. Chest 1987;92:63–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Canadian National Report on Immunization, 1996. Epidemiology of selected vaccine-preventable diseases. Can Commun Dis Rep 1997; 23 (Suppl):S4.Google Scholar
8.Wright, DK, Lalloo, UG, Nayiager, S, Govender, P.Autonomic nervous system dysfunction in severe tetanus: current perspectives. Crit Care Med 1989;17:371–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Sanford, JP.Tetanus: forgotten but not gone. N Engl J Med 1995; 332:812–3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Dittrich, KC, Bayer, MJ, Wanke, LA.A case of fatal strychnine poisoning. J Emerg Med 1984;1:327–30.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Powles, AB, Ganta, R.Use of vecuronium in management of tetanus. Anaesthesia 1985;40:879–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12.Blake, PA, Feldman, RA, Buchanan, TM, Brooks, GF, Bennett, JV.Serologic therapy of tetanus in the United States. JAMA 1976; 235:42–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Ahmadsyah, I, Salim, A.Treatment of tetanus: an open study to compare the efficacy of procaine penicillin and metronidazole. BMJ 1985;291:648–50.Google Scholar
14.Abrahamian, FM, Pollack, CV Jr, LoVecchio, F, Nanda, R, Carlson, RW.Fatal tetanus in a drug abuser with “protective” antitetanus antibodies. J Emerg Med 2000;18:189–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15.Shapiro, BA, Warren, J, Egol, AB, Greenbaum, DM, Jacobi, J, Nasraway, SA, et al. Practice parameters for sustained neuromuscular blockade in the adult critically ill patient: an executive summary. Crit Care Med 1995;23:1601–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed