Tetanus: a recurring intensive care problem.
| Title: | Tetanus: a recurring intensive care problem. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Harding-Goldson HE; Department of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, University Hospital of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica.; Hanna WJ |
| Source: | The Journal of tropical medicine and hygiene [J Trop Med Hyg] 1995 Jun; Vol. 98 (3), pp. 179-84. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Published by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine by Blackwell Scientific Publications [etc.] Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0406044 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0022-5304 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00225304 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Trop Med Hyg Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Oxford [etc.] Published by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine by Blackwell Scientific Publications [etc.] |
| MeSH Terms: | Tetanus/*complications ; Tetanus/*epidemiology; Jamaica/epidemiology ; Tetanus/mortality ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors |
| Abstract: | A fifteen-year retrospective study of 108 cases of tetanus admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the University Hospital of the West Indies is presented. Males predominated (70%), with peak incidence occurring amongst the young and the elderly. In 57% the disease was severe enough to require neuromuscular blockade and controlled ventilation. Respiratory complications occurred most commonly (80%), predominantly as a result of infection. Dysautonomia, exhibited by 55% of patients, presented the greatest difficulty in management. Mortality was high (20%), with sudden cardiac arrest being the most common cause of death. The average duration of stay in the ICU was long (27 days). As Jamaica is a Third World country with limited resources, the continued occurrence of this preventable disease represents a drain on existing intensive care funds. This must be brought to the attention of institutions responsible for planning health care programmes for developing countries. |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 19950601 Date Completed: 19950720 Latest Revision: 20041117 |
| Update Code: | 20260130 |
| PMID: | 7783276 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article