Tetanus natural history: Difference between revisions
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*There are commonly some secondary infections including: | *There are commonly some secondary infections including: | ||
**[[Sepsis]] from indwelling catheters | **[[Sepsis]] from indwelling catheters | ||
**Hospital-acquired | **[[Hospital-acquired pneumonia]] | ||
**[[ | **[[Decubitus ulcers]] | ||
*[[Pulmonary embolism]] | *[[Pulmonary embolism]] | ||
**Apparent in drug users and the elderly | **Apparent in drug users and the elderly | ||
Revision as of 19:35, 17 December 2012
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Tetanus Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Tetanus natural history On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Tetanus natural history |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Tetanus natural history |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Complications
There are many complications associated with tetanus infection. Some of the complications are as follows:
- Laryngospasm
- This can be associated with spasms of the muscles of respiration which leads to breathing difficulties.
- Fractures of the spine or long bones
- This may result from prolonged contractions and convulsions
- Hyperactivity of autonomic nervous system
- This may lead to an abnormal heart rhythm and/or hypertension
- Nosocomial infections
- Common because of prolonged hospitalization
- There are commonly some secondary infections including:
- Sepsis from indwelling catheters
- Hospital-acquired pneumonia
- Decubitus ulcers
- Pulmonary embolism
- Apparent in drug users and the elderly
- Aspiration pneumonia
- Common late complication
- Found in 50%-70% of autopsied cases
Prognosis
Death in about 10-20% of cases, higher among older people.
In recent years:
- Tetanus has been fatal in approximately 11% of reported cases
- Most commonly fatal cases found in:
- People of 60 years or older (approximately 18%)
- Unvaccinated people (approximately 22%)
- In about 20% of deaths, no obvious pathology is detected
- Death is attributed directly to the direct effects of tetanus toxin.