Inappropriate ADH secretion in tetanus.

Of 99 patients with adult tetanus, 7 developed the clinical and biochemical features of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). The diagnosis for these 7 patients was severe tetanus (dysphagia with frequent severe spasms); 5/7 patients had evidence of autonomic overactivity (tachycardia, sweating, cardiovascular lability, and hypersalivation). They all responded favorably to fluid restriction, SIADH was self-limited and resolved as the disease regressed.