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Unvaccinated individuals throughout the world are vulnerable to tetanus, but there are few data regarding the impact of focused vaccination programmes and modern intensive care facilities on the disease, particularly in the developing world. The Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam admitted 2422 patients with tetanus aged > or =1 year between April 1993 and December 2002, during which time vaccine coverage and treatment facilities improved. The proportion of children < or =10 years old admitted with tetanus fell from 11.1 to 5.6% over the 10 year period (P = 0.002). The proportion of women aged 20-40 years fell from 10.1 to 1.2% (P < 0.001). Mortality rates fell from a maximum of 27.81% in 1994 to 10.04% in 2002 (P < 0.001). Thus, a marked reduction in tetanus incidence has occurred in age groups specifically targeted by the national vaccination programme. However, tetanus continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in individuals outside the target population. Improved intensive care facilities, such as mechanical ventilation and low-cost infection control procedures are associated with a significant reduction in mortality.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.trstmh.2004.01.008

Type

Journal article

Journal

Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg

Publication Date

11/2004

Volume

98

Pages

671 - 677

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Age Distribution, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Child, Preschool, Critical Care, Female, Humans, Incidence, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Respiration, Artificial, Sex Distribution, Tetanus, Tracheostomy, Treatment Outcome, Vaccination, Vietnam