Characteristics and outcome of tetanus in adolescent and adult patients admitted to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital between 2000 and 2009

This study was a case record review of adult patients with tetanus admitted into Lagos University Teaching Hospital between 2000 and 2009. Of 78,009 adults admitted, 190 had tetanus, constituting 0.25% of admission. Mean age was 30.4 ± 13.8 years. Male to female ratio was 3:1. The commonest occupation was commercial motorcyclists. 96% of the patients were unimmunized and 4% that had partial immunization had localized tetanus. Commonest presentation was trismus (83%). Twenty three patients had complications, 30% had autonomic dysfunction. Mean incubation period was 11.4 ± 4.8 days, and mean duration of onset was 72 ± 45.6 h. 31 patients died, case fatality rate was 16.3%. Twelve percent of those with long period of onset died while 43% with short period of onset died (P = 0.002). Patients with complications (78%) died of tetanus while only 8% of those without complication died (P < 0.0001).Case fatality rate is still unacceptably high for a vaccine preventable disease. Attention to primary prevention of people at risk and active surveillance to prevent complications will further reduce mortality.