Complete elimination of tetanus is still elusive in developing countries: a review of adult tetanus cases from referral hospital in Eastern Nepal.

AIM: To analyse demography, clinical presentation, treatment, complications and outcome of patients with tetanus over a 2-year period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of medical records of all patients with tetanus admitted to the intensive care unit of B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal between July 2004 and June 2006. RESULTS: Tetanus accounted for 1.1 % of our ICU admission. Eight tetanus patients (mean age 52 years; M: F ratio 7:1) were admitted. The tetanus prone wounds of seven patients were managed at home. The most common presenting complaints were trismus and stiffness of neck and back (87.5%). Elective intubation was followed by tracheostomy in all the patients. Overall mean duration of ventilatory support was 12.5 days. Treatments given in ICU were diazepam, magnesium sulphate, tetanus immunoglobulin, metronidazole, wound management and supportive measures. Five patients (62.5%) developed autonomic instability and three patients had ventilatory associated pneumonia (37.5%). Average ICU stay was 15.1 days while hospital stay was 20.1 days. Five patients (62.5%) survived the course of disease. Two patients (25%) left the hospital against medical advice while the other (12.5%) died in ICU. CONCLUSION: Tetanus is a vaccine preventable disease. Tetanus prone wounds should be managed appropriately. Respiratory compromise and autonomic instability are the main causes of morbidity and mortality. Early recognition, intense support and prompt treatment improves morbidity and mortality of patients diagnosed with tetanus.

Results of typhoid perforation management: our experience in Bir Hospital, Nepal.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographic characteristics, clinical features, operative findings and postoperative complications in patients operated for typhoid enteric perforation. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in the Department of General Surgery, Bir Hospital since 2002 to April 2004. Among 189 patients who underwent laparotomy for hollow viscus perforation in two years, ileal perforation was found in 102 patients. RESULTS: The sex ratio of the patients was 4.66:1, in favor of male, with age range of 14-78 years and mean age 28.35 years. Most of the patients (80.39 %) presented with history of fever for two weeks. Half of the patients presented within 24 hours of onset of generalized abdominal pain. Majority (65.67%) had a solitary perforation on the antimesenteric border of terminal ileum. Eighty one percent of patients had trimming of the ulcer margins and primary closure. Complications included wound infection (35.3%), wound dehiscence (17.6%), fecal fistula (7.84%) and hospital mortality (6.86%). CONCLUSION: Typhoid ulcer perforation is common among developing nations, including Nepal. Postoperative complications following surgical management of perforation are high and increases mortality.

Typhoid fever in Dhulikhel hospital, Nepal.

One hundred and twelve cases of typhoid fever presenting in outpatient and emergency department of Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal were studied. In this study, it was found that 71% typhoid fever cases were less than 30 years of age group with male to female ratio of 3:1. Fever over 5 days followed by headache and chills were major presenting symptoms. Widal test and blood culture for Salmonella typhi were positive in 59% and 49% cases respectively. Two third of our study population had total leucocyte count of normal range. The fever clearance time was significantly better with ofloxacin compared to ciprofloxacin (p < 0.05) and ceftriaxone compared to chloramphenicol (p < 0.05). The release from treatment was significantly shorter with ceftriaxone compared to ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol (p < 0.01). Ceftriaxone was found to be 100% sensitive to salmonella typhi. Amoxicillin was only 52.1% sensitive to Salmonella typhi. Early diagnosis and institution of appropriate antibiotic therapy is of paramount importance in the management of typhoid patients.