Arbab Ali Junejo, Khurshid Ahmed Abbasi, Ghulam Rasool Bouk.
Profile of tetanus in children at Children Hospital Chandka Medical College, Larkana.
Med Channel Jan ;16(2):211-211.

OBJECTIVE OF STUDY: To see profile of tetanus in children. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study. PLACE & DURATION OF STUDY: This study was conducted at Children Hospital Chandka Medical College Larkana from January to December 2008. PATIENTS & METHODS: Files of patients who had tetanus were used for data collection. Data regarding age, sex, immunization, place of delivery, cutting of cord, source of infection, clinical presentation and outcome was collected. SPSS (15V) software was used for analysis. RESULTS: During study period 77 patients were admitted, of these 53 were neonates and 24 older children. Mean age of presentation was 7.8 days for neonates and 7.6 years for older children. There was male predominance, in neonatal age group 34 (64.15%) were males. All deliveries were conducted at home by traditional birth attendants in unhygienic conditions and none of mother was immunized against tetanus. Older patients did not receive routine immunization. In majority of neonates 42 (79.2%) blade was used for cutting of cord. Source of infection was umbilicus 53 (68.8%), wound 17 (22.1%), and discharging ear 7 (9.1%). Neonates presented with fits 42 (79.2%), lock jaw 27 (50%), refusal to feed (45.9%) and fever 21 (39.6%) while older children presented with lock jaw 21 (87.5%), fits 11 (45.9%) and fever 10 (41.7%). Mortality was quite high especially in neonates, 60.4% expired. CONCLUSION: All deliveries were conducted in home in unhygienic conditions by traditional birth attendants. All mothers and older patients were non-vaccinated. Mortality was high especially in neonates. Mother and child care facilities should be provided at door step or near to home. Traditional birth attendants should be trained in safe child birth. EPI managers should review their present strategy of immunization so that immunization coverage can be improved. ICU and NICU facilities should be established in Paediatric Unit.

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