An unusual case of evolving localized tetanus despite prior immunization and protective antibody titer
Title
An unusual case of evolving localized tetanus despite prior immunization and protective antibody titer
Creator
Tharu B; Ibrahim S; Shah M; Basnet S; Park T
Publisher
Cureus
Date
2020
2020-07-31
Description
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that tetanus infection in a fully immunized person with the last dose within 10 years is extremely rare. The prevalence of localized tetanus in such a scenario is unknown. Only two case reports of localized tetanus in previously immunized patients have been reported so far, making this the third one. Also, this is the first case of its kind to demonstrate evolving localized tetanus. Our patient is a 19-year-old man who presented with shortness of breath, pain in right upper extremity, shoulder, and neck. His chest X-ray and creatine kinase were normal. The patient was sent home. He presented again to our hospital two days later with difficulty swallowing and speaking as well as chest tightness. Routine blood tests, electrocardiogram, CT angiography of the chest, and transthoracic echocardiogram were normal. He gave a history of a cut in the right middle finger while removing the carpet a week before his presentation. His immunization history was complete with documented last tetanus shot nine years and two months ago. He was treated with tetanus vaccine and penicillin. His tetanus antitoxoid titer came out protective.
Subject
vaccination; immunization; persistence; decennial booster; evolving tetanus; localized tetanus; protective antibody titer; tetanus titer
Identifier
Rights
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Format
journalArticle
URL Address
Search for Full-text
Users with a NEOMED Library login can search for full-text journal articles at the following url: https://libraryguides.neomed.edu/home
Pages
e9498
Issue
7
Volume
12
NEOMED College
NEOMED College of Medicine
NEOMED Department
Department of Internal Medicine
Update Year & Number
August 2020 List
Affiliated Hospital
Mercy Health St Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital
Citation
Tharu B; Ibrahim S; Shah M; Basnet S; Park T, “An unusual case of evolving localized tetanus despite prior immunization and protective antibody titer,” NEOMED Bibliography Database, accessed April 26, 2024, https://neomed.omeka.net/items/show/11204.