title: Risk factors for mortality from neonatal tetanus: 7 years experience in North Bengal, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neonatal tetanus (NNT), a preventable disease, remains an important cause of infant mortality in developing countries such as India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the demographic and clinical data of NNT in North Bengal, India and determine the risk factors for mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital records of all cases of NNT admitted over a 7-year period (1997-2003) were analysed. Demographic data, clinical presentation, progression and outcome were evaluated and comparisons made between the group who survived and those who died.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mortality was 66.3%. The group who survived had a significantly greater mean bodyweight on admission, later onset of the disease and were hospitalised early. Risus sardonicus, generalised rigidity, fever, intercurrent infections and respiratory arrest were significantly more common in the fatal group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although over the 7 years improvement was observed in admissions for NNT, maternal literacy and the economic status of families, there is a persisting lack of awareness regarding antenatal care, and deliveries are still conducted unhygienically by untrained persons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, Sushrutanagar, Darjeeling, India. drsriparnabasu@rediffmail.com
authors.forename: Sriparna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.forename: Dilip Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Sutapa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ganguly
authors.forename: Pranab Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chandra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013742:Tetanus / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy