Acta Médica del Centro (Jul 2012)
Tetanus in a child
Abstract
Tetanus is an acute disease of global distribution caused by tetanospasmin (a potent protein exotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani). It is characterized by generalized muscle spasms and acquired by the entering of spores into the body through wounds or trauma to the skin and mucosa. The objective of this article is to describe the clinical characteristics and evolution of a child diagnosed with tetanus, who, at age 11, was not vaccinated against the disease. He suffered, accidentally, an open fracture of the left forearm –gateway for the germ– which was contaminated with dirt and feces of horses. After six days of the completion of surgery, he began with the classical manifestations of the disease. A treatment with anti-tetanus serum was implemented for 15 days, and he presented, as a complication, serum sickness and surgical wound sepsis, which evolved into healing with proper and timely treatment.
