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[Course and management of tetanus]
B Pfausler1, A Kampfl, H P Haring
1Arbeitsgruppe für Intensiv- und Infektionsneurologie, Universitätsklinik für Neurologie, Innsbruck.
Abstract:
Within a span of 18 months 4 patients (2 men, 2 women) were admitted with generalized tetanus to our neurological intensive care unit. The "period of onset" ranged from 2 to 14 days. All patients needed artificial ventilation over 17 to 38 days. The clinical course was complicated by gram-negative pneumonia in 3 of the 4 patients. Time of hospitalization ranged between 35 and 60 days. One patient had never been immunized against tetanus. The other 3 had not received a booster dose for over 10 years. All 4 patients survived, 3 of them without sequelae.
Insights
Severe tetanus cases require prolonged intensive care and artificial ventilation. Many patients had inadequate tetanus immunization, highlighting the importance of booster shots for preventing serious tetanus infection.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Generalized tetanus is a serious neurological condition.
- Inadequate immunization is a risk factor for tetanus.
- Tetanus can lead to severe complications and prolonged intensive care.