Kansenshōgaku zasshi. The Journal of the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases
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Kansenshogaku Zasshi · Aug 2005
Case Reports[Generalized tetanus with intractable autonomic cardiovascular instability in an aged woman].
Tetanus is characterized by tetanic convulsions related to the actions of tetanospasmin produced by Clostridium tetani. Another important characteristic of tetanus is the instability of the cardiovascular system related to sympathetic hyperactivity in the autonomic nervous system, and it may be an important prognostic factor. We report a patient with tetanus in whose unstable circulatory kinetics made circulation management difficult. ⋯ Because of the unstable circulatory kinetics, the patient was carefully managed was performed in the intensive care unit (ICU), and she improved. ICU management may be essential for treating severe tetanus with cardiovascular complications. Acquired immunity is not achieved after the onset of tetanus, and since elderly people, in particular, as in our own caset, are easily injured when they fall, we recommend vaccination.