RESUMO
A descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the clinical outcome of conservative therapy in tetanus. Records of fifty one cases of tetanus admitted to Jimma Hospital between 1994 to 1996 were analyzed. The overall mortality was 45.1 percent (23/51). Respiratory failure due to aspiration and hypostatic pneumonia accounted for 47.8 percent of the deaths while uncontrolled spasm was responsible for 39.1 percent. The severity of the illness on admission did not have prognostic value. Tetanus is associated with high mortality in this study. Intensive care treatment with ventilatory support would have reduced the mortality. Intrathecal anti-tetanus serum is worth trying as it is believed to improve survival. Simple preventive measures like active immunization against tetanus; wearing shoes and improved education are practical ways to reduce the incidence of tetanus in the community