Tetanus – a Reborn Diagnosis? A Case Report

Česká verzia

Authors: M. Pýchová; L. Vojtilová; M. Freibergerová; R. Pařízková; M. Šnelerová; P. Husa
Authors place of work: Klinika infekčních chorob LF MU a FN Brno
Published in the journal: Cesk Slov Neurol N 2013; 76/109(1): 100-103
Category: Kazuistika

Summary

Clostridium tetani is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus generally present in the soil as well as in the intestines of many mammals. During its growth, the bacillus produces toxin called tetanospasmin. Vaccination against tetanus had been available from 1920s and the incidence of tetanus in the developed countries has significantly declined. However, these pathogens are still a part of the environment that surrounds us. Immunisation of adults is recommended but not required. Therefore, the risk of tetanus is not negligible. A case report presents a patient without regular tetanus toxoid booster who worked at a risk garden area and who died due to generalized tetanus.

Key words:
Clostridium tetani –tetanus toxoid –⁠ vaccination –⁠ muscle spasm –⁠ autonomic dysfunction

The authors declare they have no potential conflicts of interest concerning drugs, products, or services used in the study.

The Editorial Board declares that the manuscript met the ICMJE “uniform requirements” for biomedical papers.

Accepted for review:
6. 4. 2012

Accepted for print:
22. 5. 2012

Zdroje

1. Bhatia R, Prabhakar S, Grover VK. Tetanus. Neurol India 2002; 50(4): 398–407.

2. Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R (eds). Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. New York: Churchill Livingstone 2009 : 3091–3096.

3. Beneš J. Infekční lékařství. 1st ed. Praha: Galén 2009 : 275–276.

4. Srigley JA, Haider S, Johnstone J. A lethal case of generalized tetanus. CMAJ 2011; 183(9): 1045–1048.

5. Aydin-Teke T, Bayhan GI, Afsarlar CE, Oz FN, Akansel AR, Tanir G. A report of two pediatric tetanus cases. Turk J Pediatr 2011; 53(4): 437–440.

6. Apte NM, Karnad DR. Short report: the spatula test: a simple bedside test to diagnose tetanus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1995; 53(4): 386–387.

7. Ahmadsyah I, Salim A. Treatment of tetanus: an open study to compare the efficacy of prokaine penicilin and metronidazole. Br Med J 1985; 291(6496): 648–650.

8. Attygalle D, Rodrigo N. Magnesium as first line therapy in the management of tetanus: a propective study of 40 patients. Anaesthesia 2002; 57(8): 811–817.

9. Ali G, Kamal M, Khan AN. Comparision of the efficacy of magnesium sulphate and diazepam in the control of tetanus spasm. JPMI 2011; 25(2): 106–110.

10. Reddy VG. Pharmacotherapy of tetanus –⁠ a review. Middle East J Anesthesiol 2002; 16(4): 419–442.