Tetanus - a Review of Current Concepts in Management

ABSTRACT

Tetanus is a vaccine preventable disease that yearly causes a total of 309;000 deaths. Reports showed up to 1 million cases annually; mostly in underdeveloped countries. Clostridium tetani; the causative organism; is widespread in the faeces of domestic animals and humans; while spores of C. tetani are abundant in soil and in the environment surrounding the habitation of humans and animals. In developing countries; mortality rates are as high as 28 per 100;000; in North America the rate is less than 0.1 per 100;000. Immunization programs clearly decreased neonatal tetanus deaths; and some recent evidence suggests progress in prevention throughout the World. Tetanus remains a great public health problem in developing countries such as Nigeria and it is associated with high mortality; but the understanding of the epidemiological aspects of this disease forms the basis of preventive strategies in any community. This paper reviewed the history; epidemiology and clinical diagnosis of tetanus and emphasized the current opinions in the management of tetanus outlining the various suggested treatment plans from experts in developing countries which form the basis for World Health Organization recommendations: