Ileal infarction: a rare cause of tetanus in the elderly

We report the case of a 70 year-old woman who presented with clinical tetanus following a four day history of abdominal pain and vomiting. The source of Clostridium tetani was an infarcted loop of ileum resulting from pelvic adhesions. The treatment of tetanus and the incidence of endogenous sources of Clostridium tetani are reviewed. Health Department figures for the decade 1973-1982 show that 70% of reported cases of clinical tetanus occur in those aged 45 years or older.