Tetanus after clandestine induced abortion: a case report

Abstract

Tetanus is a very serious, acute toxigenic infection caused by the neurotropic exotoxin of Clostridium tetani,
a ubiquitous anaerobic bacillus, whose spores are found in the soil. according to the who, the epidemiological
situation of tetanus is experiencing a wide disparity in the world and has almost disappeared in developed
countries. despite the existence of a wide range of contraceptive methods in Burkina Faso, clandestine
abortions are still common, exposing victims to infectious complications that can be very serious. we report
a case of stage ii tetanus, which occurred after an illegal abortion in a 19 year’s old patient, positive to
hiV with favorable outcomes. This was a 19 year’s old unmarried woman residing in Sector 10 of ouahigouya
City, in Burkina Faso. She was admitted to the gynecological and obstetric emergency department of the
maternity ward of the Regional Center university hospital of ouahigouya for a painful limitation of the
mouth when it opened, associated with cervical stiffness. in view of the clinical picture and the result obtained,
the diagnosis was a tetanus stage ii uterine portal following an abortive maneuver, associated with a Klebsiella
pneumoniae infection, on a terrain hiV1. The patient benefited from multidisciplinary management involving the resuscitator, the obstetrician gynecologist and the infectious disease specialist. The evolution was
favorable and the patient was released on the 17th day of hospitalization, under oestro-progestative contraceptive
tablet and advice on dual protection based on male or female condom. a medical appointment for
care and follow-up for his hiV infection. unwanted pregnancies are subject to clandestine abortions and
complications can sometimes be dangerous. effective use of family planning methods by women of childbearing
age will help to prevent them.