Abstract
Background: Tetanus still remains a major public health problem in India like in most other developing countries, with a high morbidity and mortality.
Objectives: To study the socio-demographic profile and the clinical profile that they presented with, as well as the outcome of the tetanus patients who were admitted to the E.D Hospital, Mysore in India.
Methodology: The data of all the patients of tetanus who were above the age of 15 years, who were admitted from January 2001 to December 2010, were collected, compiled and analyzed from the Medical Records Department of the Hospital.
Results: Out of the 512 cases of tetanus, 379 (74%) were males and 133 (26%) were females. Their ages varied from 15 to 81 years, with a mean and a standard deviation respectively of 47.7 and 15.0 years. The overall mortality rate was 42.2%. The most common presenting symptoms were trismus (95.7%), neck stiffness (89.3%), body spasms/stiffness (73%) and dysphagia (38.9%). The ages of the patients and the presence of complications had a statistically significant relationship with respect to the outcome (survival versus death).