Evaluation of Tetanus Cases Presenting to the Emergency Department at a Tertiary hospital in Somalia

Aim: Tetanus is an infection characterized by muscle spasms and trismus caused by toxins produced by Clostridium tetani. Although tetanus is a vaccine-preventable disease, it continues to be a public health problem in developing countries with high mortality rates. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical profile and outcome of tetanus patients and determine the factors affecting the hospitalization unit, the length of hospital stay, and mortality. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted with patients diagnosed with tetanus in a Tertiary care emergency department (ED) in Somalia. The relationship of demographic data, symptoms, laboratory findings, applied treatment methods with the hospitalization unit (regular inpatient floor/intensive care unit), length of hospital stay, and mortality were analyzed. Results: Sixty-seven patients diagnosed with tetanus during a 4-year study period were included. The mean patient age was 12,8±14,89 years, and 73,1% were males. Generalized muscle spasm (85,7%) was the most common symptom, benzodiazepines (95,5%.) were the most commonly used medications, and the mean length of hospital stay was 10.73±8.15 days. The rate of patients hospitalized in the ICU was 20,9%. The overall mortality rate was calculated as 19,5%. The presence of opisthotonos, neck stiffness, risus sardonicus, generalized muscle spasm, and dyspnea significantly correlated with mortality (p