A Case of Tetanus Associated with Dysphagia

Abstract

We report on a 79-year-old woman complaining of progressive dysphagia as an initial symptom of tetanus. Endoscopic and videofluoroscopic examination of her swallowing process showed dysphagea with food retention in the pyriform sinus, probably because of spasm of cricopharyngeal muscles due to tetanus. The patient was cured with tetanus antitoxin and antibiotics without any sequelae. Tetanus must be considered in the differential diagnosis of progressive dysphagia in spite of the lack of any history of injury.