Author/Authors :
Aksel, Gökhan University of Health Sciences - Umraniye Training and Research Hospital - Emergency Medicine Clinic - Istanbul, Turkey , Muzafferİslam, Mehmet University of Health Sciences - Umraniye Training and Research Hospital - Emergency Medicine Clinic - Istanbul, Turkey , Eroğlu, Serkan Emre University of Health Sciences - Umraniye Training and Research Hospital - Emergency Medicine Clinic - Istanbul, Turkey , Özen, Can Emergency Department - King's College Hospital - London, UK , Sektioğlu, Bilge Kağan University of Health Sciences - SancaktepeŞehit Prof.Dr.İlhan Varank Training and Research Hospital - Emergency Medicine Clinic - Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract :
Tetanus is a rare but potentially fatal disease, caused by ClostridiumTetani. This microorganism is very common in the environment andmay be transmitted through open wounds.1Immunization and properwound care are the best ways of prevention of tetanus.2Mortality caused by tetanus can vary between 10 and 80% in non-immunized individuals, especially in both extremes of age.2Full im-munity against the disease may not be achieved in all hosts even if theprimary vaccination is completed.1Having said that studies confirm thenon-immunized individuals who have got infected with tetanus have amore severe disease compared to immunized population and they havea higher rate of mortality.1,3Tetanus represents a great risk for unregistered refugees, popula-tions who implement anti-vaccination, and people who live in areaswhich are not covered by a vaccination program. In this case series, weaim to highlight the increasing frequency of tetanus by discussing twofatal cases seen in unvaccinated, unregistered refugees whose numbersare recently growing.
