Generalized tetanus: a case report

Abstract

Tetanus is a rare disease caused by Clostridium tetani, causing damage to the central nervous system with the development of muscle hypertension and attacks of generalized seizures caused by the action of the pathogen toxin. Despite the availability of safe and effective vaccines, the urgency of the problem of tetanus incidence is high, since a significant part of the population is not immunized against this disease, and severe manifestations of tetanus can be fatal. A clinical case of traumatic generalized tetanus in an 11-year-old patient is described. The absence of routine immunization against tetanus and emergency active-passive immunization contributed to the development of the disease. The disease proceeded in a typical form with the development of muscle spasm, myoclonia, trism, convulsions. Specific tetanus serum was treated, pathogenetic therapy with anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants was performed against the background of which clinical recovery occurred and the patient was discharged from the hospital.