Current Status of Tetanus in Korea: Observation from a Public Health and Clinical Aspect on the Past 10 Years

ABSTRACT

In order to obtain knowledge and information on tetanus occurrence in Korea, an analytical survey from a public health point of view and clinical aspect was carried out for hospitalized patients in four general hospitals in Korea from January 1, 1974, to December 31, 1983. The results showed that 175 among a total of 543 tetanus patients died m the hospitals, with a fatality rate of 24.1 percent. However, the patients discharged against the doctor's advice were not included in these death cases. Sex ratio of tetanus patients between male and female was 31. Home delivery in neonate tetanus patients and laceration, and abrasion in non-neonate tetanus patients were the dominant causes of death. Foot wound was the most dominant cause of death in the latter. Clinical features of tetanus patients on admission were sucking failure and dysphagia (50.8%), convulsion (53.8%) and trismus (50.8%). The tetanus patients expired mainly due to respiratory and cardiac failure. In the treatment of tetanus patients, airway (58.3%), intubation (45.3%) and tracheostomy (9.7%) were applied.