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Tetanus. A clinical review.
J M Al-Kaabi1, E M Scrimgeour, A Louon
1Department of Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. drkaabi@hotmail.com
Saudi Medical Journal
|August 2, 2001
Summary
Tetanus remains an infrequent but serious disease in Oman, requiring intensive care. Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management contributed to a 10% mortality rate in this study.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Tetanus, though uncommon in Oman due to immunization programs, still presents sporadically.
- Global mortality rates for tetanus remain high, emphasizing the disease's severity.
- Patients at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital require extensive Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stays and multidisciplinary care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the outcomes of tetanus patients treated at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital over a decade.
- To assess the effectiveness of aggressive, multidisciplinary management in reducing tetanus mortality.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of all tetanus cases admitted between 1991 and 1999.
- Analysis of patient demographics, clinical presentation, ICU treatment protocols, and outcomes.
- Focus on early diagnosis and coordinated multidisciplinary management strategies.
Main Results:
- Ten cases (9 adults, 1 infant) were identified, with adults averaging 59 years old.
- All patients presented with severe generalized tetanus, requiring prolonged ICU care (average 5.5 weeks for survivors).
- The overall mortality rate was 10%, with one adult death and a surviving infant.
Conclusions:
- Tetanus in Oman is rare but necessitates prolonged, intensive, and costly treatment.
- The study achieved a comparatively low mortality rate (10%) attributed to early diagnosis, aggressive treatment, and multidisciplinary care.
- Effective management strategies are crucial for improving outcomes in severe tetanus cases.