Ten-year Retrospective Chart Review of Postneonatal Tetanus at Semiurban Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of Gujarat, Western India

from 23,356 cases in 1990 to 4,946 cases in 2017, yet it continues to pose a threat in both urban and rural settings. 2 IntroductIonTetanus, caused by the Clostridium tetani bacterium, remains a significant health concern, particularly in developing countries.Despite being a vaccine-preventable disease, tetanus continues to cause considerable morbidity and mortality, especially among children.The spores of this bacterium are ubiquitous in the environment and are found in soil, dust, and animal feces. 1 These spores can enter the body through wounds, burns, or unsterile medical procedures, leading to infection.Once inside the body, the spores germinate and produce tetanospasmin, a potent neurotoxin responsible for the clinical manifestations of tetanus. 1 Globally, the incidence of tetanus has significantly decreased due to widespread vaccination efforts.However, it remains a public health issue in regions with low immunization coverage.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 25,000 newborns died from neonatal tetanus in 2018, a significant reduction from the 7,87,000 deaths in 1988, but still a concerning number in the context of preventable diseases. 2In India, the incidence of non-neonatal tetanus has decreased