Saleem Iqbal, Noorul Iman, Sadeequr Rahman, Mohammad Haroon, Zainab Zaheer, Najeebur Rahman, Mohammad Tariq.
Trends of tetanus patients in north of Pakistan.
J Med Sci Jan ;20(2):90-3.

Objectives: To do prospective analysis of tetanus patients, especially with respect to mode of presentation, complications & outcome. Material and Methods: This study was conducted from January 2009 to July 2011, at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. All the patients above 14 years of age who presented with signs, symptoms or complications of tetanus were included in the study. Result: Total 29 patients were managed, 23 were males and 06 females. Age ranged from 14 to 72 years. Source of infection was evident in 25 (86.20%) patients. The most common site of injury was right lower limb, involved in 13 (44.82%) patients. 14 patients (48.27%) presented with pain at the site of wound. Tachycardia was present in 24 patients & labile blood pressure in 08 patients. Incubation period varied from 05 to 25 days, while onset time varied from 01 to 05 days. History of immunization was present in 10 patients. All the patients were managed in intensive care unit. Five patients were treated with Benzyl penicillin while rest with Benzyl Penicillin and Metronidazole. Wounds were cleaned and debrided. Tetanus toxoid and human tetanus immunoglobulin was injected to all the patients. One patient expired, the rest recovered completely. Recovery period varied from 16 to 31 days. Conclusion: Tetanus is more common in males, to reduce mortality all the patients should be managed in intensive care unit.

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