%0 Journal Article
%T Post-neonatal Tetanus in Nigeria: The need for Booster doses of Tetanus Toxoid
%A OJ Fatunde
%A JB Familusi
%J Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics
%D 2001
%I 
%X Eighty-two (87 per cent) of the 94 cases of post-neonatal tetanus patients seen in the department of paediatrics, University College Hospital, Ibadan, over an 11-year period were aged five years and above. Persistent occurrence of this preventable condition for which an effective vaccine is available indicates deficiencies in the health system of the country. Although, a case fatality rate of 12 per cent compared favourably with those of centres employing more sophisticated treatment modalities, morbidity was high with patients spending an average of 23 days (range 3 to 76 days) in hospital. Although no reliable record of tetanus immunization was obtained in 37 of the patients, 34, 8 and 15 patients received doses of DPT immunization of 0, 1 - 2 and 3, respectively, during infancy. No patient had tetanus toxoid (TT) administered after infancy. The findings indicate that the current Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) recommended by the WHO for developing countries of which three doses of DPT are given during infancy with no provision for booster doses, is inadequate for tetanus prevention during childhood. It is suggested that a clause be added to the EPI schedule, advising two extra doses of TT between ages four to six years and 11 to 12 years (entry into primary school and secondary school, respectively) for all children. In order to ensure compliance, these booster doses of TT could be made prerequisites for entry into these schools. Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics 2001; 28:35. pp. 35-38
%U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/njp/article/view/12053