title: Tetanus in Poland in 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite of the small number of cases reported in Poland tetanus is a permanent risk to unvaccinated people. The severity of the disease is associated with high case fatality, especially among people in older age groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this paper is to present the data of epidemiological surveillance of tetanus in 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  Principal source of the data is bulletin: "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland in 2012, and individual reports of cases of tetanus sent to the Department of Epidemiology, NIPH -NIH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2012, there were reported 19 cases of tetanus. 6 cases occurred in men, and 13 women. 13 cases occurred in persons over 69 years of age and in those age groups 6 cases were fatal. The paper describes the geographical distribution and the month of infection, the nature of the wounds which were portals of infection and the duration of incubation period of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severity of tetanus, despite a small number of cases each year leads to several deaths, which could be prevented by vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene (NIZP-PZH) in Warsaw.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zieliński
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D013742:Tetanus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013745:Tetanus Toxoid
keywords: 2012; Poland; surveillance; tetanus