Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Diazepam for treating tetanus.

C N Okoromah1, F E A Lesi

  • 1Paediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|February 20, 2004
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Neonatal tetanus: the Massey Street Children's Hospital experience.

Nigerian quarterly journal of hospital medicine·2011
Same author

Clinical presentation of congenital malaria at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

Nigerian journal of clinical practice·2010
Same author

Plasma magnesium and calcium levels in children with epilepsy in lagos.

The Nigerian postgraduate medical journal·2007
Same author

Regional versus general anaesthesia for caesarean section.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2006
Same author

Communication disorders in Nigerian children.

International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology·2005
Same author

Congenital malaria among inborn babies at a tertiary centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

Journal of tropical pediatrics·2005
Same journal

Mechanical thromboprophylaxis for preventing intradialytic hypotension in people undergoing maintenance haemodialysis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Prognostic models for predicting intensive care unit admission or mortality in critically ill adults not yet been admitted to the intensive care unit.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Views and experiences of weight management for people living with mobility‑limiting conditions, intellectual disabilities or severe mental illness: a qualitative evidence synthesis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Non-pharmacological interventions for anxiety and depression in Parkinson's disease.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Biologic drugs for induction and maintenance of remission in Crohn's disease: a network meta-analysis.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
Same journal

Preconception and first-trimester metformin for improving pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The Cochrane database of systematic reviews·2026
See all related articles

Diazepam may improve survival and reduce hospitalization for tetanus patients. However, limited trial data and methodological issues prevent definitive conclusions on its effectiveness compared to other drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Tetanus management presents challenges, particularly in resource-limited settings.
  • Conventional drug efficacy for tetanus spasms and rigidity is uncertain.
  • Diazepam offers potential advantages due to its combined sedative, anticonvulsant, and muscle relaxant properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy of diazepam with other drugs for treating tetanus-induced muscle spasms and rigidity.
  • To evaluate diazepam's role in managing tetanus in both pediatric and adult populations.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic search of multiple electronic databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, CINAHL) and other sources.
  • Inclusion of randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Independent data extraction and quality assessment of eligible studies.

    • Main Results:

    • Two trials involving 134 children were included; methodological quality was often unclear.
    • Diazepam monotherapy showed a statistically significant reduction in in-hospital mortality compared to phenobarbitone and chlorpromazine combination.
    • Diazepam use, alone or as an adjunct, was associated with a milder clinical course and shorter hospital stays.

    Conclusions:

    • Evidence suggests diazepam monotherapy may be more effective than phenobarbitone and chlorpromazine for tetanus.
    • Small trial sizes and methodological limitations hinder definitive conclusions and changes in clinical practice.
    • Further large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trials are recommended to confirm diazepam's efficacy and safety.