Current Status of Tetanus in Korea

한국에 있어서의 파상풍에 대한 고찰 (최근 10년간을 중심으로)

Aiming to obtain knowledge and information on tetanus occurrence in Korea, an analystical survey was carried out for registered and admitted patients in four large hospitals in Korea during January 1, 1974 through December 31, 1983. Tile results showed as follows: 1. 175 among total 453 tetanus patients died in the hospitals, therefore fatal rate showed as 24.1%. However, the discharged patients against doctors' advices were not included in these died cases. 2. Sex ratio of admitted tetanus patients between male and felame was shown as 3 : 1. 3. Home delivery in neonate tetanus and laceration and abrasion in non-neonate tetanus were observed as the most dominant cause of death respectively and the wound of foot lead the most dominant cause of death in the latter. 4. Clinical features of the tetanus patients on admission showed the following order in the frequency: sucking and disphagia failure(50.8%), convulsion (53.8%), trismus (50.8%). 5. The tetanus patients were terminated with mainly respiratory ani cardiac failure. 6. In the treatment for tetanus patients, airway (58.3%), intubation (45.3%) and tracheostomy(9.7%) were applied respectively.