Tetanus – A Review Of Current Concepts In Management

Abstract

Tetanus is a vaccinepreventable disease that yearly causes a total of 309,000 deaths. Reports showed up to 1 million cases annually, mostly in underdeveloped countries. Clostridium tetani, the causative organism, is widespread in the faeces of domestic animals and humans, while spores of C. tetani are abundant in soil and in the environment surrounding the habitation of humans and animals. In developing countries, mortality rates are as high as 28 per 100,000; in North America the rate is less than 0.1 per 100,000. Immunization programs clearly decreased neonatal tetanus deaths, and some recent evidence suggests progress in prevention throughout the World. Tetanus remains a great public health problem in developing countries such as Nigeria and it is associated with high mortality, but the understanding of the epidemiological aspects of this disease forms the basis of preventive strategies in any community. This paper reviewed the history, epidemiology and clinical diagnosis of tetanus and emphasized the current opinions in the management of tetanus outlining the various suggested treatment plans from experts in developing countries which form the basis for World Health Organization recommendations.

Prognosis of tetanus patients in the intensive care unit of Provincial Hospital Jason Sendwe, Lubumbashi, DR Congo

“…Simply because they are young adults who are part of the population economically active and and at higher risk of injury. Regarding sex again, the higher proportion of men can be explained by the fact that men are more active handicrafts and exposed to injury and are susceptible to infection, and women are immune due to routine vaccination during pregnancy [4, 15]. Overcrowding, lack of hygiene, ignorance and poor living conditions can explain why the majority of patients are common residents of the largest and most populated and urbanized cities of Lubumbashi: Joint Appendix, Kampemba and Kenya.…”

“…The disease has become rare in developed countries mainly due to vaccination programs childhood to adulthood as well as measures of sterilization and aseptic technique [4, 8, 9]. Even in those countries when it is diagnosed, it remains a serious and deadly disease despite the progress of medicine and adequate resuscitation [10].…”

“…Although this disease is easily preventable with a highly effective vaccine, tetanus is still common and remains a public health problem; with high mortality in both adults and newborns in almost all developing countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo [2, 4, 8, 11], years after the introduction of vaccination through the Expanded Program on Immunization.…”

Predictable Impact of Current Economic Recession on the Spread and Severity of Diseases in African Countries: Focus on Nigeria

“…A facility-based study reported that though the disease had the (16,7.1%) among all diagnoses but mortality (62.5%) was one of the highest [27] (Table 1). In Nigeria, tetanus mortality rate varies from 38% to 60%, depending on the infrastructure facilities and personnel at the reporting center [28]. Neonatal tetanus (NNT) is a significant cause of death among babies in the first 28 days of life [29].…”

Evaluation of Intravenous Anthrax Immune Globulin for Treatment of Inhalation Anthrax

“…Among the 11 cases of inhalation anthrax linked to the 2001 anthrax letter attacks in the United States, five were fatal despite aggressive medical care, including antibiotic therapy (11,12). Antibody-based antitoxin therapy, which has a long history of successful use as a medical countermeasure for bacterial toxins, such as tetanus (13,14) and botulinum (15), could serve as adjunct therapy for toxemic patients.…”