Question
What is the incidence rate of neonatal tetanus?
Answer
Neonatal tetanus is a severe infectious disease caused by Clostridium tetani entering the umbilical area through a contaminated cut in the umbilical cord. This disease typically occurs around the sixth or seventh day after birth. It has several colloquial names, such as “Four Six Wind” and “Seven Day Wind,” and its clinical manifestations include generalized stiff muscle spasms, a fixed grimace, and locked jaw. Before liberation, due to outdated delivery methods, many newborns died from tetanus. After liberation, China vigorously promoted scientific delivery methods, significantly reducing the incidence of tetanus. However, due to a lack of knowledge dissemination, the incidence rate remains relatively high in remote areas. According to a survey report by the World Health Organization in 1984 on developing countries, the incidence rate of neonatal tetanus was 5-60‰ among live births.