TY - JOUR AU - tessema, shimels AU - tefera, afomia AU - khabityimer, robel PY - 2022/12/30 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - A NEONATAL TETANUS: CASE SERIES IN RESOURCE LIMITED SETTING JF - Ethiopian Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health JA - Ethiop J Pediatr Child Health VL - 17 IS - 1 SE - Case Series DO - UR - https://www.ejpch.net/index.php/ejpch/article/view/118 SP - AB - <p><strong><u>ABSTRACT</u></strong></p><p><strong>Background</strong>: Neonatal tetanus is a deadly infection leading to 7-8% of neonatal mortality in developing countries. WHO defines Neonatal tetanus as an illness in a child who has the normal ability to suck in the first 2 days of life, but who loses the ability between 3 and 28 days of life and becomes rigid and has spasms. Though Ethiopia has declared maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination in 2017, there has been significant number of neonates presenting with this problem in Neonatal ICU’s.</p><p><strong>Methods </strong>: We characterized clinical profile, demography and outcome of&nbsp; seven neonatal tetanus cases admitted at DillaUniveristy hospital, neonatal ICU from September 11,2018 to September11, 2020.</p><p><strong>Results</strong>:All mothers gave birth at home with unskilled birth attendant. Median maternal age is 26 years and two out of seven had ANC followup and took Two doses of TT vaccine. Fever, failure to suck, spasm and convulsions are common presenting symptoms. The overall mortality was 70%.</p><p><strong>Conculusion : </strong>Continuous emphasis on antenatal tetanus immunization and safe delivery practices should be maintained. Clinicians caring for neonates should be aware of the presentations of neonatal tetanus to allow them to diagnose these patients early and initiate appropriate lifesaving management</p> ER -