Abstract
A 63-year old woman who complained of severe dysphagia visited our hospital. A physical examination revealed rigidity of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Laryngoscopy showed pooling of saliva at the bilateral pyrif orm sinus of the hypopharynx. Three days later, she complained of trismus. At that time, she was diagnosed with tetanus without a history of trauma. She was admitted and received human antitetanus immunoglobulin (3000 unit) at once and benzylpenicillin for 10 days intravenously. Opisthotonus, airway obstruction and circulatory disturbance did not occur. The patient recovered without tracheal intubation, mechanical ventilation or a tracheotomy. Although tetanus is rare in Japan, otorhinolaryngologists may encounter a patient with tetanus.
