Tetanus is an acute neuromuscular disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani, found in soil. The bacteria’s spores enter the body through the skin, on the occasion of a small wound. This is what happened to a 6 year old boy living in Oregon (United States). While playing in his backyard, he slashed his forehead. The injury was slight but a few days later the parents took him to the hospital as the child could no longer loosen his jaws and suffered from muscle spasms and breathing problems. The doctors quickly diagnosed tetanus. Parents who have not had their child vaccinated against the disease.
The first case of tetanus in 30 years
“Fortunately, doctors in the emergency department immediately recognized the symptoms of severe tetanus” declared to Washington post Prof. Judith Guzman-Cottrill, author of a report that has just been published on the site United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Because it was the first case of this serious neurological disease in 30 years in Oregon” insisted this professor of pediatrics at the University of Medicine of Oregon.
First, the boy received tetanus immunoglobulin as well as dTPolio, a vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and polio. But his spasms worsened, preventing him from breathing. Doctors therefore had to place him on an artificial respirator and treat him with drugs that block neuromuscular spasms.
$ 812,000 in hospital costs
The young boy remained in intensive care for 47 days then 10 days in the pediatric ward before removing his tracheal tube. “On the 57th day, he was transferred from the pediatric hospital to a rehabilitation center where he spent two and a half weeks” we learn in the report.
In total, hospital costs amounted to nearly $ 812,000, according to the CDC. On discharge from the hospital, the doctors advised the parents to recall the dTPolio vaccine, but the parents refused.
“Despite a thorough review by doctors of the risks and benefits of tetanus vaccination, the family has refused second dose of dTPolio and any other recommended vaccination “, says the CDC report.
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