All issues > Volume 14(1); 1971

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1971;14(1):13-18. Published online January 31, 1971.

A Clinical Study of Neonatal Tetanus

Sung He Shin¹, Pang Ji Kim¹, Ki Joon Kim¹, Mark A Wightman¹, John k Wilson¹

¹Dept, of Pediatrics, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeon-Ju, Jeon-Puk, Korea.

Abstract

Seventy six cases of neonatal tetanus admitted to Presbyterian Medical Center in Jeon-Ju, Korea, during a three year period from August 1967 to Sept. 1970, were evaluated. Treatment consisted of Tetanus antitoxinflarge doses I. V, and I.M.), Muscle relaxants(primarily Meprobamate), phenobarbital, Nothing by mouth for 5 to 15 days with intravenous hydration, prophylactic antibiotics for 7 to lOdays, clean environment (in contrast to a previous study in which all cases were admitted to a crowded general pediatric ward with all types of infectious diseases), and adequate facilities for oxygen and tracheal suction The following observations were made: 1.There were 54 male infants and 22 female. 2.All patients were delivered at home with no sanitary facilities. Unsterile instrumentsfscissors and kitchen, knives) and dressings were used in all cases. 3.The length of incubation period1 was shown to significantly effect mortality, the earlier the disease became symptomatic the more serious the course. The average incubation period was 6.1 4ays. Patients with incubation period over seven days had a good prognosis. 4.Most patients who survived as long as 10 days recovered completely. 5.Pneumonia was the most common complication, and this significantly influenced the prognosis. 6.The use of a muscle relaxant(Meprobamate) apparently produced a stricking reduction in the marked opisthotonos observed in previous study. 7. Hypothermia was significantly correlated with mortality. 8.Out of the 76 cases 27 died, a mortality rate of 36%.

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