An unusual complication of the traditional treatment of a closed fracture – generalized tetanus: a case report
Abstract Background Tetanus is a severe infectious disease that can lead to death. The clinical manifestations are due to an exotoxin secreted by Clostridium tetani, a spore-producing Gram-positive bacillus. The penetration of the germ is made through a skin opening, independently of the size of the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Case Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-017-1477-y |
| _version_ | 1811328171944968192 |
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| author | Landry W. Tchuenkam Emmanuel K. Ndame Marc L. Guifo Celestin Danwang Ginette C. Kalla Arthur Essomba |
| author_facet | Landry W. Tchuenkam Emmanuel K. Ndame Marc L. Guifo Celestin Danwang Ginette C. Kalla Arthur Essomba |
| author_sort | Landry W. Tchuenkam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Tetanus is a severe infectious disease that can lead to death. The clinical manifestations are due to an exotoxin secreted by Clostridium tetani, a spore-producing Gram-positive bacillus. The penetration of the germ is made through a skin opening, independently of the size of the wound. Case presentation A 13-year-old black African boy of the Bantu ethnic group with unknown tetanus vaccination status presented to our pediatric emergency room for the management of chest and vertebral pains which started a few days after traditional treatment by scarification and herbal and leaf ointment. The treatment was initiated by a traditional healer and indicated for a closed fracture of our patient’s left forearm sustained during a fight. The diagnosis of generalized tetanus was made on the basis of generalized contractures with opisthotonus, trismus, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Despite prompt intensive care management, he died a few hours after admission. Conclusion This case emphasizes the permanent threat of tetanus in our environment especially after cultural and traditional acts like scarification that in this specific case was for a therapeutic purpose. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:20:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0bf3e0cd516489d99545618bcd8ba4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-1947 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:20:33Z |
| publishDate | 2017-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Case Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0bf3e0cd516489d99545618bcd8ba4c2022-12-22T02:41:41ZengBMCJournal of Medical Case Reports1752-19472017-10-011111410.1186/s13256-017-1477-yAn unusual complication of the traditional treatment of a closed fracture – generalized tetanus: a case reportLandry W. Tchuenkam0Emmanuel K. Ndame1Marc L. Guifo2Celestin Danwang3Ginette C. Kalla4Arthur Essomba5Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde IFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde IDepartment of Surgery and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde University Hospital CenterFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde IDepartment of Pediatric, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde University Hospital CenterDepartment of Surgery and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde University Hospital CenterAbstract Background Tetanus is a severe infectious disease that can lead to death. The clinical manifestations are due to an exotoxin secreted by Clostridium tetani, a spore-producing Gram-positive bacillus. The penetration of the germ is made through a skin opening, independently of the size of the wound. Case presentation A 13-year-old black African boy of the Bantu ethnic group with unknown tetanus vaccination status presented to our pediatric emergency room for the management of chest and vertebral pains which started a few days after traditional treatment by scarification and herbal and leaf ointment. The treatment was initiated by a traditional healer and indicated for a closed fracture of our patient’s left forearm sustained during a fight. The diagnosis of generalized tetanus was made on the basis of generalized contractures with opisthotonus, trismus, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Despite prompt intensive care management, he died a few hours after admission. Conclusion This case emphasizes the permanent threat of tetanus in our environment especially after cultural and traditional acts like scarification that in this specific case was for a therapeutic purpose.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-017-1477-yFractureForearmTetanusTraditional healer |
| spellingShingle | Landry W. Tchuenkam Emmanuel K. Ndame Marc L. Guifo Celestin Danwang Ginette C. Kalla Arthur Essomba An unusual complication of the traditional treatment of a closed fracture – generalized tetanus: a case report Journal of Medical Case Reports Fracture Forearm Tetanus Traditional healer |
| title | An unusual complication of the traditional treatment of a closed fracture – generalized tetanus: a case report |
| title_full | An unusual complication of the traditional treatment of a closed fracture – generalized tetanus: a case report |
| title_fullStr | An unusual complication of the traditional treatment of a closed fracture – generalized tetanus: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | An unusual complication of the traditional treatment of a closed fracture – generalized tetanus: a case report |
| title_short | An unusual complication of the traditional treatment of a closed fracture – generalized tetanus: a case report |
| title_sort | unusual complication of the traditional treatment of a closed fracture generalized tetanus a case report |
| topic | Fracture Forearm Tetanus Traditional healer |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13256-017-1477-y |
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