She arrived at Phu Tho Provincial General Hospital unable to speak clearly, open her mouth more than one cm, or eat, and experienced full-body spasms and increased muscle tone. Tests confirmed generalized tetanus. She received sedatives, muscle relaxants, anti-tetanus serum (ATS) to neutralize toxins, and antibiotics.

After 13 days of treatment, the patient could open her mouth over 4 cm, her muscle tone had greatly reduced, and hemodynamics were stable. She is now recovering well, with stable vital signs.

On 31/12, Master, Doctor Phung Thi Huong from the Department of Tropical Diseases, stated that tetanus is a dangerous acute infection caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria entering open wounds, especially dirty ones or those with foreign objects. The bacterial toxins directly affect the nervous system, causing muscle spasms and potentially becoming life-threatening if untreated.

In 2025, the hospital treated many tetanus cases resulting from diverse injuries, including cuts from sharp objects, abrasions from falls, and minor work-related wounds. Most patients had self-treated at home, bypassing medical facilities for proper wound care and tetanus vaccination. This often led to severe infections and critical hospitalization.

Tetanus is preventable with proper wound management and complete vaccination. Therefore, no wound, however minor, should be overlooked. Seek immediate medical attention for wound cleaning, risk assessment, and tetanus vaccination if needed.

Le Nga