Cephalic tetanus: about two cases

Tetanus is still a common problem in developing countries. Localized tetanus remains a rare clinical presentation dominated by cephalic localization. Head, neck or ear infection strongly guide the diagnosis. A trismus and one or several cranial nerve impairment are the major symptoms. We report two cases of cephalic tetanus associating a trismus with involvement of the cranial nerves. Diagnosis was difficult because the neurological damage preceded the trismus.