Cephalic tetanus: a case report and review of the literature.
Cephalic tetanus is a rare form of tetanus defined as trismus plus paralysis of one or more cranial nerves. The most frequently involved cranial nerve is the seventh. It accounts for 1 to 3% of the total number of reported cases of tetanus and has a mortality of 15 to 30%. The incubation period is 1 to 14 days, and approximately two thirds of cases progress to generalized tetanus. The mechanism of the paralysis is not completely understood. Treatment involves debridement of wounds, administration of penicillin and tetanus immune-globulin, aggressive supportive care, and initiation of active immunization.
Jagoda
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Department of Emergency Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007.
Riggio
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Burguieres
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D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013742:Tetanus / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D014313:Trismus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy