title: A case of tetanus secondary to an odontogenic infection.
abstract: Tetanus is a life-threatening clinical syndrome that commonly presents with muscular spasms, rigidity, and autonomic instability. It is considered rare in industrialized countries, and tetanus occurring secondary to dental abscesses, procedures, or infections has been infrequently reported. We describe the case of a patient inadequately immunized for tetanus, who presented to the emergency department with muscular spasms, rigidity, and autonomic instability in the setting of an odontogenic infection. A clinical diagnosis of tetanus was made and subsequently managed successfully.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Medical Microbiology,College of Medicine,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB.
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darraj
authors.affiliation: †Department of Health Sciences,College of Medicine,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.affiliation: ‡Department of Internal Medicine,College of Medicine,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB.
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Keynan
authors.affiliation: †Department of Health Sciences,College of Medicine,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB.
authors.forename: Kristjan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: §Department of Emergency Medicine,College of Medicine,University of Manitoba,Winnipeg,MB.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Snider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005491:Focal Infection, Dental / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008964:Molar, Third; D013742:Tetanus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
keywords: dental; immunization; tetanus