J Korean Assoc Oral Maxillofac Surg.  2004 Aug;30(4):345-348.

Cephalic tetanus: A case report

• Ryu SH
• Seo IY
• Park HJ
• Oh HK

Abstract

Cephalic tetanus is a rare subtype of tetanus in which trismus is a charateristic symptom. The paralysis of one or more cranial nerves can occur. The 7th cranial nerve is most frequently involved. It account for 1 to 3% of the tetanus and has a mortality of 15 to 30%. The incubation period is 1 to 14 days, and approximately two thirds of tetanus cases progress to generalized tetanus. Generally, the symptoms of cephalic tetanus can include : facial pain, trismus, dysphagia, muscle twitching spasms of the face and jaw (risus sardonicus), neck stiffness and malaise. We present a case of cephalic tetanus who 54-year male patient had trismus and dysphagia. There was no history of trauma. As there was a delay in diagnosis of cephalic tetanus, respiratory disorder and intermittent general spasm occurred. The patient was treated by injection of antibiotics, muscle relaxant, and human anti-tetanus immunoglobulin. His symptoms were disappeared, and he was discharged ambulatory.

Keyword

Cephalic tetanus; Trismus

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Cranial Nerves
Deglutition Disorders
Diagnosis
Facial Pain
Humans
Immunoglobulins
Jaw
Male
Mortality
Neck
Olfactory Nerve
Paralysis
Spasm
Tetanus*
Trismus
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Immunoglobulins