Arbab Ali Junejo, Khurshid Ahmed Abbasi, Abdul Hamid Shaikh.
A three year retrospective review of post neonatal tetanus at Children Hospital, Chandka Medical College, Larkana..
Pak Paed J Jan ;36(1):7-11.

Objective of study: To see epidemiology, clinical presentation and outcome of tetanus in children beyond neonatal age. Study Design: Retrospective descriptive. Place and duration of study: This study was carried out at Children Hospital Chandka Medical College Larkana from January 2008 to December 2010. Patients and Methods: Files of patients who had clinical diagnosis of tetanus were used for data collection. Data regarding age, sex, immunization, source of infection, clinical presentation and outcome were collected. SPSS-16 software was used for data analysis. Results were expressed as number and percentage. Results: During study period 148 patients of tetanus beyond neonatal age group were admitted. Mean age of presentation was 5.9 years (age range 1-14 years). There was male predominance; males were 81 (54.72%), while females were 76(45.27%). Majority of patients 107(72.29%) were non-vaccinated. Source of infection was wound in 90 (60.8%), discharging ear 32 (21.62%), and not identified in 26 (17.56%). Regarding clinical presentation, lock Jaw was seen in all the patients. Other features were, body stiffness 119 (80.4%), fever 116 (78.37%) and fits 79 (53.37%). Mortality was quite high, 27 (18.243%) patients expired. Conclusion: Tetanus is still a problem in this area. It is more prevalent in school age group with male predominance. Majority of patients are non-vaccinated, commonest clinical features are lock jaw, spasticity and fever and the mortality is high.

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