Local Tetanus: a Case Report

Abstract

Summary: Local tetanus following intramuscular injection into the gluteal muscle, in a ten-year old female patient is reported. The patient presented initially at a private clinic with fever and was treated for presumed malaria with intramuscular injection given into both gluteal regions. Later development consisted of stiffness of the left lower limb. Diagnosis of local tetanus was made, based on provocative spasms of the underlying left gluteal muscles. The diagnosis of tetanus became more obvious a few days later, when the spasms were spontaneous and generalized. During the recovery, the spasms became localized again to the left lower limb.