[Tetanus--the forgotten disease]

Tetanus is preventable by proper immunization, which has almost eradicated the disease in countries with a high standard of living. However, the disease is still prevalent even in the most advanced countries and it often appears in the elderly. We emphasize this fact and alert primary care physicians, and duty physicians in emergency rooms, to the possibility of tetanus developing in older patients. Because of their age, they often do not remember when they last had tetanus immunization, nor are records always adequate. We point out the necessity and feasibility of incorporating a special immunization review program for the elderly, including a cost-benefit analysis.