The pattern and outcome of adult tetanus at a sub-urban tertiary hospital in Nigeria.
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.
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. drdemola@yahoo.com
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Fawibe
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013742:Tetanus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult