A NEONATAL TETANUS: CASE SERIES IN RESOURCE LIMITED SETTING

Authors

  • shimels tessema assistant professor in pediatrics and child health, dilla univeristy
  • afomia Bsc in midwifery and masters in human nutrition, Dilla University school of public health
  • robel assistant professor in human nutrition and phd fellow, Dilla University, school of public health

Keywords:

case series, neonates, tetanus

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Neonatal tetanus is a deadly infection leading to 7-8% of neonatal mortality in developing countries. WHO defines Neonatal tetanus as an illness in a child who has the normal ability to suck in the first 2 days of life, but who loses the ability between 3 and 28 days of life and becomes rigid and has spasms. Though Ethiopia has declared maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination in 2017, there has been significant number of neonates presenting with this problem in Neonatal ICU’s.

Methods : We characterized clinical profile, demography and outcome of  seven neonatal tetanus cases admitted at DillaUniveristy hospital, neonatal ICU from September 11,2018 to September11, 2020.

Results:All mothers gave birth at home with unskilled birth attendant. Median maternal age is 26 years and two out of seven had ANC followup and took Two doses of TT vaccine. Fever, failure to suck, spasm and convulsions are common presenting symptoms. The overall mortality was 70%.

Conculusion : Continuous emphasis on antenatal tetanus immunization and safe delivery practices should be maintained. Clinicians caring for neonates should be aware of the presentations of neonatal tetanus to allow them to diagnose these patients early and initiate appropriate lifesaving management

Author Biographies

afomia, Bsc in midwifery and masters in human nutrition, Dilla University school of public health

masters in human nutrition

robel, assistant professor in human nutrition and phd fellow, Dilla University, school of public health

assistant, professor in humn nutririon

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Published

2022-09-11 — Updated on 2022-12-30

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How to Cite

tessema, shimels, tefera, afomia, & khabityimer, robel. (2022). A NEONATAL TETANUS: CASE SERIES IN RESOURCE LIMITED SETTING. Ethiopian Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health, 17(1). Retrieved from https://ejpch.net/index.php/ejpch/article/view/118 (Original work published September 11, 2022)