Neonatal Tetanus Still Exists: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Neonatal tetanus (NT) remains the leading cause of death in underdeveloped countries, although it is relatively rare in developed countries. Umbilical stump sepsis in newborns born to unvaccinated mothers is a major risk factor for NT. The World Health Organization describes NT as an infection that affects infants who lose the ability to suck between 3 and 28 days of age, becoming rigid and having spasms. Limited resources in underdeveloped countries have made the management of NT difficult. In this report, we describe a fatal case of NT in a newborn born to a mother who had not received any tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine. This study aims to make neonatal health professionals aware of the symptoms of NT so that they can diagnose it early and provide the appropriate care to save lives, and stress the importance of tetanus vaccination and maintaining hygienic conditions throughout pregnancy and childbirth to prevent this disease.