Intrathecal antitetanic serum in the management of the tetanus neonatorum

ABSTRACT

The impact of Intrathecal antitetanic serum in the management of tetanus neonatorum was studied in thirty two neonates admitted in the Infectious Diseases Hospital over a period of fourteen months, other conventional methods of treatment were used as well. Simultaneously hundred and eighty six neonates with tetanus neonatorum treated without intrathecal antitetanic serum were used as control group, significant reduction in the mortality rate was observed in the group treated by intrathecal route [P<0.0005], 18 neonates recovered in the treated group. Mortality was 43% compares to 82% in control group. This study shows that the intrathecal serum if given early in this disease may reduce the mortality rate and might become an important step in the management of neonatal tetanus. To our best knowledge this clinical trial is performed for the first time in this country