[Epidemiological characteristics of tetanus in Vojvodina].
BACKGROUND
Vojvodina is an endemic area for tetanus.


METHODS
Epidemiological characteristics of tetanus were analyzed based on registered cases of disease and death in the period 1960-2004, and epidemiological investigation of 50 registered cases during the last 10 years of this period. Epidemiological characteristics were analyzed chronologically, demographically and topographically.


CONCLUSIONS
During the period of observation, the incidence rate of tetanus declined steadily. Due to immunization and extremely high coverage, tetanus has been practically eliminated in the age group of younger than 29 years. Neonatal tetanus and tetanus in the age group 30-59 years has been reduced to individual cases. Today, tetanus is a problem of the elderly population. Tetanus deaths occur statistically more often among persons older than 66 years. The average case fatality rate during the period of observation was 33.1%. The vaccination history in the majority of investigated cases was unknown (52%) or they have never been vaccinated (28%) because they were mainly elderly people born before introduction of mandatory immunization. Tetanus most often occurs after minor wounds, because of which patients do not seek medical attention. In the majority of cases tetanus occurred after limb injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
Tetanus in Vojvodina is a problem among unimmunized elderly people. It mostly occurs after minor injuries or after contamination of chronic skin lesions. Mandatory vaccination of older age groups should contribute to further reduction in the incidence rate of tetanus.
Petrović
Vladimir
V
Sektor za epidemiologiju, Institut za zastitu zdravlja, Novi Sad.
Seguljev
Zorica
Z
Petrović
Mladen
M
Ilić
Svetlana
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D013742:Tetanus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology