The pattern and outcome of adult tetanus at a sub-Saharan tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

Abstract

Though tetanus is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, there is a paucity of data on the pattern and outcome of the disease among the sub-urban and rural populations. This retrospective study of adult tetanus at a suburban tertiary hospital in Nigeria reports a high case fatality rate of 57.1% in 35 patients with a mean age of 33.0+/-14.8 years. Severity of disease (p=0.02), presence of complications (p=0.001) and length of hospital stay (p<0.001) were significantly associated with fatality. Preventive measures for control of tetanus should be extended to the inaccessible suburban and rural areas of Nigeria.