Maternal and neonatal tetanus

Abstract

Maternal and neonatal tetanus are important causes of maternal and neonatal mortality, claiming about 180 000 lives worldwide every year, almost exclusively in developing countries. Although easily prevented by maternal immunisation with tetanus toxoid vaccine, and aseptic obstetric and postnatal umbilical-cord care practices, maternal and neonatal tetanus persist as public-health problems in 48 countries, mainly in Asia and Africa. Survival of tetanus patients has improved substantially for those treated in hospitals with modern intensive-care facilities; however, such facilities are often unavailable where the tetanus burden is highest. The Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination Initiative assists countries in which maternal and neonatal tetanus has not been eliminated to provide immunisation with tetanus toxoid to women of childbearing age. The ultimate goal of this initiative is the worldwide elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus. Since tetanus spores cannot be removed from the environment, sustaining elimination will require improvements to presently inadequate immunisation and health-service infrastructures, and universal access to those services. The renewed worldwide commitment to the reduction of maternal and child mortality, if translated into effective action, could help to provide the systemic changes needed for long-term elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Generalized tetanus in a 4-year old boy presenting with dysphagia and trismus: a case report

“…In particular, generalized tetanus infections within the first month after birth (tetanus neonatorum) have become extremely rare in the Western world [1]. However, the widespread distribution of C. tetani spores in our environment in combination with the lack of herd immunity still leads to incidental tetanus infections in non-immunized individuals.…”

“…In tetanus neonatorum, the early symptoms include suckling and feeding problems, vomiting and seizures. These often rapidly progress into generalized spasms, opisthotonus or even septic complications [1,2]. …”

“…This causes the inevitable increased risk of tetanus infection after wound contamination. Although tetanus has become rare in developed countries due to the successful implementation of primary immunization series, infants that are not immunized on religious or philosophical grounds are still at risk [1]. …”

HCG Found in WHO Tetanus Vaccine in Kenya Raises Concern in the Developing World

“…The same schedule published by the WHO in 1993 was copied and re-iterated in 2007 [57] [84] and calls for "three primary doses of 0.5 ml-Open Access Library Journal [84] at the top contrasted with the WHO schedule applied in the Kenya campaign. The copyright to the original figure is held by the World Health Organization but according to their published notice the containing document "may, however, be freely reviewed, abstracted, reproduced and translated, in part or in whole."…”

“…The copyright to the original figure is held by the World Health Organization but according to their published notice the containing document "may, however, be freely reviewed, abstracted, reproduced and translated, in part or in whole." according to the standard CDC doctrine which is contrary to dose-response theory and research in every other area of medicine [85] [86], and one of the main explanations for the pervasiveness of auto-immune disorders associated with vaccines [87] [88] [89] [90] [91]-one-size "fits-all" dose produced by manufacturers for all recipients at least four weeks apart, followed by booster doses at 18 months, 5 years, 10 years and 16 years and then every 10 years" [57] thereafter. The TT schedule for adolescents and adults, and the one for neonates, require the full basic course of 7 doses of vaccine as shown in Table 1 [57] and as spelled out in the top part of Figure 3 where the intervals between doses are indicated on the horizontal time line.…”