Tetanus Workup

  • Author: Patrick B Hinfey, MD; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 28, 2011
 

Laboratory Studies

  • Laboratory findings are not diagnostically valuable, but they may help exclude strychnine poisoning.
  • Blood counts and blood chemical findings are unremarkable.
  • A lumbar puncture is not necessary. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is normal, except for an increased opening pressure, especially during spasms.
  • Blood counts and blood chemical findings are unremarkable.
  • Serum antitoxin levels more than 0.01 U/mL usually are protective, making the diagnosis less likely.
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Imaging Studies

  • Imaging studies of the head and spine reveal no abnormalities.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Patrick B Hinfey, MD  Research Director and Associate Residency Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine

Patrick B Hinfey, MD, is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Stroke Association, Emergency Medicine Residents Association, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Jill Ripper, MD, MS  Residency Director, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

Jill Ripper, MD, MS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Christian August Engell, MD  Attending Physician, Department of Infectious Diseases, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

Christian August Engell, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Infectious Diseases Society of America and Infectious Diseases Society of New Jersey

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Keith N Chappell, MD  Administrative Chief Resident, Junior Attending Resident, Department of Emergency Medicine, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

Disclosure: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Salary Employment

Specialty Editor Board

Gregory William Rutecki  MD, Professor of Medicine, University of South Alabama Medical School

Gregory William Rutecki is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, and Society of General Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Richard B Brown, MD, FACP  Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, Baystate Medical Center; Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine

Richard B Brown, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Massachusetts Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

References

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