Tetanus following a burn injury.

We report a case of tetanus following thermal injury in an 18-month-old girl who had been immunized with the usual triple vaccine and had received a booster dose for tetanus at 15 months of age. She had been admitted initially to a general district hospital and remained there for 10 days before being transferred to the University Hospital. Despite the unparalleled effectiveness and safety of tetanus toxoid, the administration of antitetanus serum (tetanus antitoxin) for patients with suspicious symptoms or wounds grossly contaminated with soil is often highly desirable. A schema of prophylaxis and management of patients with tetanus is provided.