Emergency treatment for a tetanus patient and literature review

10.6913/mrhk.060302

Yutian LEI；Zhifeng MO；Wei WEI；Fei YU

Tetanus ； Muscle Spasms ； Wound Management ； Clostridium tetani ； Immunization

Medical Research

6卷3期（2024 / 09 / 30）

7 - 14

英文

Tetanus is an acute zoonotic disease caused by the invasion of tetanus bacteria into wounds, where they proliferate and secrete toxins. This condition is characterized by persistent skeletal muscle spasms and heightened excitability of nerve reflexes, manifesting as clenched jaws and both tonic and clonic spasms. The primary muscle groups affected are the masseter, dorsal, abdominal, and limb muscles. Key measures for treating tetanus include thorough wound management, as well as controlling muscle spasms and lung infections. This article presents a case of tetanus, initially diagnosed in the internal medicine department. After excluding conditions related to stroke, the patient was transferred to the surgical department for debridement and anti-infection treatment. Ultimately, the patient's condition stabilized and showed improvement. We aim to deepen clinical physicians' understanding of tetanus by sharing the diagnostic and therapeutic insights from this case.