%0 Journal Article
%T Dysphagia and trismus: an unusual case of tetanus
%A "Antonio Villa"
%A "Marianna Gregorio"
%A "Francesca Bassi"
%A "Alessandra Perego"
%A "Maria Francesca Donato"
%A "Vilma Galimberti"
%A "Maria Grazia Bellotti"
%A "Antonella Cheldi"
%J Journal of Health and Social Sciences
%P 67-70
%@ 2499-5886
%D 3
%R 10.19204/2016/dysp9
%X Tetanus is a life-threatening infection that is rare in the developed world; it is more frequent in the
elderly people and immunocompromised patients. We report a case of a 53-year-old woman who
presented with dysphagia, mouth pain and trismus. She did not report any injuries. The suspected
diagnosis of tetanus was made. The blood examination showed severe lymphocytopenia and a
positive result for the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test, with a suspected diagnosis of SjogrenĄ¯s
syndrome. It is possible that her immunocompromised conditions could have led to the onset of
tetanus, even after casual and minimal contact with Clostridium spores.
%K "tetanus"
%K "trismus"
%K "dysphagia"
%K "lymphocytopenia"
%K "immunodepression"
%K "SjogrenĄ¯s syndrome"
%U http://journalhss.com/wp-content/uploads/JHHS1167-70.pdf