Tetanus neonatorum Assessment of different therapeutic regimens

A prospective study is underway to assess various conservative methods in the treatment of neonatal tetanus. So far a hundred and fifty cases have been included over a period of two years from 15[th] December 1979 to 15[th] December 1981. A significant reduction in the mortality has been observed by incorporating pyridoxine to other measures. In this group the mortality was 44% as compared to 55% in the group treated without it. The main complications encountered in the course of therapy were aspiration pneumonia jaundice and septicaemia. The survivors examined in the follow-up clinic were found to be developmentally normal but 80% of them had umbilical herniae