Category: International EM
Keywords: tetanus, global, international, infectious disease (PubMed Search)
Posted: 6/25/2014 by Andrea Tenner, MD
(Updated: 11/22/2024)
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General Information: Tetanus is caused by the toxin of Clostridium tetani--a gram-positive bacillus found in soil and animal excrement. It is a life-threatening but preventable disease. Cases have declined by > 95% in the past 65 years, but dozens of cases still occur annually in the US and it is still frequently seen in developing countries.
Clinical Presentation:
Diagnosis:
Clinical Case Definition: In the absence of a more likely diagnosis, an acute illness with muscle spasms or hypertonia. There is no diagnostic laboratory test for tetanus.
Treatment:
Bottom Line:
Tetanus is not as rare as we would like to think. Acute diagnostic acumen and assertive clinical management can help save the life of someone with this potentially deadly disease
University of Maryland Section for Global Emergency Health
Author: Jon Mark Hirshon, MD, MPH, PhD
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6012a1.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt16-tetanus.html
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/229594-treatment