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Tetanus is caused by wound contamination with Clostridium tetani, an anaerobic bacterium that leads to intense and painful muscle spasms, clenched jaw, and autonomic instability. An effective vaccine has made tetanus exceedingly rare in the U.S. The CDC reported fewer than 40 cases annually, and 16 deaths between 2009 and 2015.
Now, a case report from CDC describes the first pediatric case in Oregon in more than 30 years. The infection occurred in 2017 in a healthy but unvaccinated child (age, 6 years) who developed classic symptoms of tetanus 6 days after sustaining a laceration on his forehead while playing on a farm. His almost 2-month hospital course was complicated by severe pain, autonomic dysfunction, and prolonged ventilatory support…