Neonatal Tetanus in Mashhad (North East of Iran) over a 17 Year period

Introduction: Neonatal tetanus is a highly fatal disease that can be prevented by immunization and improvement in obstetric practices. The aim of the present study was to assess the characteristics of cases of neonatal tetanus in two large tertiary hospitals (Ghaem and Imam Reza hospitals) of Mashhad -North East of Iran between 1984-2001. Methods: all cases whose epidemiological and clinical characteristics were compatible with neonatal tetanus and were admitted into the NICU's of these two hospitals between July 1984 to June 2001 were analyzed from their hospital records. Results: A total of 60 patients had been hospitalized with the diagnosis of neonatal tetanus during the study period. All of them were delivered out of hospital by untrained birth attendants and none of the mothers had been immunized against tetanus during pregnancy. 74% of infants died. Age younger than 7 days at the time of admission was associated with a high mortality rate. Conclusion: Although neonatal tetanus is a highly fatal disease yet. It can be prevented with appropriate health care practices and tetanus immunization of pregnant women