RESUMO
We investigated 34 cases of tetanus in patients younger than 75 years old in Libreville. We found that the incidence of tetanus was 8 cases for every million people. The disease mostly affected people younger than 50 (85%). Only two neonatal tetanus cases were reported. The death rate was 74%, despite the availability of intensive care and respiratory assistance. We stress the benefits of tetanus immunization, which must be continued, and suggest the use of intrathecal serotherapy for the cure of tetanus in Libreville.
Assuntos
Tétano/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Cuidados Críticos , Feminino , Gabão/epidemiologia , Hospitalização/estatística & dados numéricos , Humanos , Imunização , Incidência , Recém-Nascido , Injeções Espinhais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Terapia Respiratória , Estudos Retrospectivos , Tétano/mortalidade , Tétano/prevenção & controle , Tétano/terapia , Antitoxina Tetânica/administração & dosagem , Antitoxina Tetânica/uso terapêutico , Toxoide TetânicoRESUMO
This retrospective study covers a period of eleven years (1977-1988). It concerns 365 patients who developed a cerebrovascular accident or stroke and originated from different provinces of Gabon. The authors report their experiences in order to emphasize the diagnostic problems and the need of computerized tomography.
