Otogenic Tetanus: Report of a Case

Medical literature reveals that tetanus of otogenic origin is a rare occurrence, and when it does occur it is seldom suspected. Usually the underlying cause of the condition is trauma to the drum, a foreign body in the canal, or external irritation, all followed by a chronic suppurative otitis media or other suppurative process. The following case was characterized by an acute onset, with death resulting in a very short time: W. S., a white boy, aged 4½ years, admitted to the hospital at 11 p. m., Oct. 14, 1932, had had a cold in the head for two weeks, with a discharging ear for the preceding five days; he had been unable to open the mouth for one day. The parents stated that the patient had had a cold for about two weeks, which lasted until three days prior to admission. October 7 the right ear began to discharge