All issues > Volume 16(1); 1973

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1973;16(1):40-44. Published online January 31, 1973.

A Clinical Observation of Tetanus Neonatorum

H.T. Byun¹, K.H. Kim¹, K.H. Nam¹, H.S. Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Maryknoll Hospital Busan, Korea

Abstract

Total 41 cases of the neonatal tetanus were clinicaly evaluated, who were admitted to the Dept, of Pediatrics, Maryknoll Hospital in Busan, Korea during the 5 year and 4 months period from May 1966 to Sept. 1971. The results were as follows; 1) The 20 cases out of the total 41 cases were died and the mortality rate was 51.2%. 2)Slightly high incidence of the male than female was revealed and its ratio was 1. 3 : 1. 3)The mortality rate is reducing year by year. 4)All patients were delivered at home with no sanitary facilities and unsterile instruments were used in all cases. We must keep in our mind that neonatal tetanus was also happened in the cases of delivery by a professional midwife. 5)The shorter the incubation period was, the worse the prognosis was. 6)After 7th hospital day, most of patients could be recovered. 7)The body temperature below normal and of high degree on admission of patients was followed by poor prognosis. 8)The main complication of neonatal tetanus were asphyxia and bronchopneumonia which showed poor prognosis, and the causes of death were mainly asphyxia. 9)The mortality rate was high at night comparing with that of daytime and it needs continuous vigilance of doctors and nurses.

Keywords :