Journal Article

Long-term outcome in survivors of neonatal tetanus following specialist intensive care in Vietnam

Dao, T. T. M., Hoa, Nguyen Thi Xuan, Yen, Lam Minh, Trieu, Huynh T., Tuong, Vo Ngoc Cat, Anh, Nguyen Thi Kim, Sabanathan, Saraswathy, Vuong, Huynh Ngoc Thien, Qui, Phan Tu, Van Tan, Le, Dinh, Pham Tam, Wills, Bridget, Thwaites, Catherine Louise

2017

Overview

Background Neonatal tetanus continues to occur in many resource-limited settings but there are few data regarding long-term neurological outcome from the disease, especially in settings with critical care facilities. Methods We assessed long-term outcome following neonatal tetanus in infants treated in a pediatric intensive care unit in southern Vietnam. Neurological and neurodevelopmental testing was performed in 17 survivors of neonatal tetanus and 18 control children from the same communities using tools previously validated in Vietnamese children. Results The median age of children assessed was 36 months. Eight neonatal tetanus survivors and 9 community control cases aged < 42 months were tested using the Bayley III Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley III-VN) and 8 neonatal tetanus survivors and 9 community controls aged ≥42 months were tested using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. No significant reductions in growth indices or neurodevelopmental scores were shown in survivors of neonatal tetanus compared to controls although there was a trend towards lower scores in neonatal tetanus survivors. Neurological examination was normal in all children except for two neonatal tetanus survivors with perceptive deafness and one child with mild gross motor abnormality. Neonatal tetanus survivors who had expienced severe disease (Ablett grade ≥ 3) had lower total Bayley III-VN scores than those with mild disease (15 (IQR 14–18) vs 24 (IQR 19–27), p  = 0.05) with a significantly lower cognitive domain score (3 (IQR 2–6) severe disease vs 7 (IQR 7–8) mild disease, p  = 0.02). Conclusions Neonatal tetanus is associated with long-term sequelae in those with severe disease. In view of these findings, prevention of neonatal tetanus should remain a priority.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Age / Bacterial and fungal diseases / Case-Control Studies / Child / Child, Preschool / Children / Children & youth / Cognitive ability / Communities / Complications / Critical care / Deafness / Development / Developmental Disabilities - etiology / Female / Follow-Up Studies / Hospitals / Humans / Infants / Infectious Diseases / Intensive care / Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Internal Medicine / Male / Medical Microbiology / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Mortality / Neonatal intensive care / Neonatal tetanus / Neonates / Outcome / Parasitology / Patient outcomes / Pediatrics / Public health / Quality / Research Article / Sepsis / Survivors / Tetanus / Tetanus - complications / Tetanus - therapy / Tropical diseases / Tropical Medicine / Ventilators / Vietnam