Open AccessEpidemiology of accidental tetanus in Brazil from 2009-2019
Author(s) -
Sara Julia Zorzi de Brum,
Eduarda Pilati,
Haniel Willen Araújo Souza,
Jackson Pagno Lunelli,
Raimundo Maurício dos Santos,
Sarah Gondim Santos Paulino,
Ivana Loraine Lindemann,
Renata dos Santos Rabello,
Ana Luísa Casado Brasil Dozza
Publication year - 2021
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
DOI - 10.5327/1516-3180.197
Subject(s) - accidental , tetanus , epidemiology , medicine , lethality , public health , pediatrics , mortality rate , immunization , environmental health , vaccination , demography , surgery , immunology , toxicology , biology , pathology , physics , antigen , sociology , acoustics
Background: Accidental tetanus is an infectious disease caused by acute intoxication from Clostridium tetani’s exotoxin. Manifestations include intermittent tonic spasms due to central nervous system’s hyperexcitability. Objectives: To estimate the lethality rate and describe the epidemiological profile of patients diagnosed with accidental tetanus in Brazil. Design and setting: Ecological descriptive study developed at Federal University of Fronteira Sul, Passo Fundo, Brazil. Methods: The data was obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). All cases confirmed in Brazil from 2009 to 2019 were included. Variables sex, skin color, age group, outcome and region of notification were selected. Descriptive statistics were used based on absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies and the lethality rate was calculated. Results: 2,969 cases were included, with a 34% decrease from 2009 to 2019. The majority were male (85.3%), brown people (51%), age group of 40-59 years (39.9%) and in the northeast region (33.3%). Cure was seen in 52.5% and the lethality rate was 32.3%. Conclusions: Though cases reduced, accidental tetanus still is a public health issue because of its high lethality rate. Immunization, offered by the Brazilian public health system, can prevent it, indicating the necessity to increase immunization rates.