• Landry W Tchuenkam, Emmanuel K Ndame, Marc L Guifo, Celestin Danwang, Ginette C Kalla, and Arthur Essomba.
• Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroon. landrytchuenkus@gmail.com.
• J Med Case Rep. 2017 Oct 24; 11 (1): 298.

BackgroundTetanus is a severe infectious disease that can lead to death. The clinical manifestations are due to an exotoxin secreted by Clostridium tetani, a spore-producing Gram-positive bacillus. The penetration of the germ is made through a skin opening, independently of the size of the wound.Case PresentationA 13-year-old black African boy of the Bantu ethnic group with unknown tetanus vaccination status presented to our pediatric emergency room for the management of chest and vertebral pains which started a few days after traditional treatment by scarification and herbal and leaf ointment. The treatment was initiated by a traditional healer and indicated for a closed fracture of our patient's left forearm sustained during a fight. The diagnosis of generalized tetanus was made on the basis of generalized contractures with opisthotonus, trismus, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Despite prompt intensive care management, he died a few hours after admission.ConclusionThis case emphasizes the permanent threat of tetanus in our environment especially after cultural and traditional acts like scarification that in this specific case was for a therapeutic purpose.

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