Abstract

Dr. Hafiza Ramisha Ashraf, Dr. Sajjad Hussain Moon* and Dr. Waseem Ahmad

ABSTRACT

Background: Tetanus is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries though it is rare in developed countries. Childhood tetanus has high mortality and is preventable. Knowledge about the need of active and passive immunization for wound is still not encouraging. This study was conducted to describe the clinical profile, management outcome and prognostic indicators of tetanus in children in our region. Methodology: It is a cross sectional study. This study was conducted at pediatric ward, Nishtar Hospital Multan from September 2017 to February 2018. In this study 100 patients were included. Their parents were interviewed according to the given performa. Results: Out of these patients, the fathers of 68 patients and mothers of 86 patients were either illiterate or primary education only. Most 56 of the patients belonged to a low socioeconomic family having the monthly income of less than PKR 10,000. The fathers of 42 patients were Saraiki. 57 patients were from rural areas. Out of 100 affected, seventy percent of patients were boys, age range of 5 to 10 years. Conclusion: Tetanus is a preventable disease and to prevent it, more awareness in the society is needed. The various factors which are responsible for the development of childhood tetanus were; poor educational status of the parents, ethnicity, low socioeconomic status and people from rural areas.