[Tetanus - still a reality in Sweden]

Tetanus (lockjaw) is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by a neurotoxin produced by the spore forming bacterium Clostridium tetani. The incidence has decreased substantially the last decades in most high-income countries, much due to well established vaccination programs. However, although uncommon, tetanus still remains a reality in Sweden. The condition is diagnosed based on clinical parameters and is hard to distinguish from many other more common differential diagnoses. Lack of vaccine induced antibodies is the most important risk factor for developing tetanus. Here we present a patient who developed tetanus two weeks following a puncture wound, but who was initially misdiagnosed with wake-up stroke. The case illustrates the importance of reviewing a patient's tetanus vaccine history, which determines what prophylactic measures are adequate to take, especially following potentially contaminated wounds.