A minor wound with a fatal course

Abstract

The authors report on a fatal case of severe tetanus in a 74-year old woman. Despite comprehensive intensive care management they could not achieve a satisfying control of the autonomic dysfunction caused by tetanus. By now there is no established therapy for the treatment of the autonomic dysfunction. This report demonstrates the dismal prognosis of severe tetanus in the older people, which is often complicated by cardiovascular comorbidity and underlines the importance of tetanus prevention by sufficient vaccination. Copyright 2011 BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.