Snapshot A 4-day-old girl presents to the pediatric emergency room for inability to suck or cry. The mom reports that since birth, she has been feeding, sucking, and crying normally until this morning. She also reports that she herself had not had any of the recommended vaccines as she grew up in a family that had refused vaccines. On physical exam, the baby girl is stiff and fails to cry during exam. She is also in opisthotonos. When given a pacifier, she also fails to suck. She is given a benzodiazepine for the spasm and appropriate treatment. She is admitted for further management. Introduction Classification Clostridium tetani anaerobic gram + rod produces tetanospasmin toxin transmission direct contact in contaminated soil Associated conditions tetanus neonatal tetanus neonate who are born to unvaccinated mothers inability to suck or cry after day 2 of life infection of the umbilical stump Prevention DTap vaccine vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis 5 doses before school-age, completed by 4-6 years of age Tdap vaccine booster vaccine at 11-12 years of age indicated at least once in adults who have never previously received a dose of Tdap Td vaccine tetanus and diphtheria toxoid vaccine at 10-year intervals Epidemiology Demographics rare in the US more common in developing countries due to low rates of vaccination Risk factors lack of vaccination trauma chronic wounds lack of immunity in mothers ETIOLOGY Pathogenesis forms spores that are resistant to heat and chemicals produces tetanospasmin, an exotoxin a protease that cleaves SNARE proteins, which blocks the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters (glycine and GABA) causes paralysis Presentation Symptoms spastic paralysis muscle stiffness spasms fever Physical exam trismus lockjaw risus sardonicus raised eyebrows grin opisthotonos spinal muscle spasms causes backward arching of head and spine rigid abdominal muscles neonates foul-smelling and erythematous umbilical stump failure or weakness of suck or cry Studies Serology or culture rarely used due to low sensitivity and specificity Making the diagnosis most cases are clinically diagnosed Differential Bacterial meningitis distinguishing factor nuchal rigidity without other signs of spastic paralysis Treatment Management approach stop toxin production neutralize circulating toxin active immunization symptomatic and supportive care Conservative wound debridement indication all patients Medical tetanus immune globulin indication when diagnosis of tetanus is considered metronidazole indication universally recommended active immunization indication all patients with tetanus should receive full vaccine series at diagnosis benzodiazepine indications muscle spasms Prophylaxis indicated for wounds for the prevention of tetanus booster vaccine indication clean and minor wounds patients with <3 prior doses or unknown vaccination history patients with ≥3 prior doses but ≥10 years since last dose all other wounds, including dirty, contaminated, and/or severe patients with <3 prior doses or unknown vaccination history patients with ≥3 prior doses but ≥5 years since last dose contraindication anaphylaxis encephalopathy tetanus immune globulin indication dirty, contaminated, and/or severe wounds and <3 prior doses of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine or unknown vaccination history Complications Respiratory compromise from spasm of respiratory muscles Aspiration pneumonia Contractures Prognosis Spasms last for ~ 1 month Mortality can be high if not treated