Neonatal Tetanus in Babies of Women Immunized with Tetanus Toxoid during Pregnancy

In a study of 52 cases of neonatal tetanus admitted to Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha, it was found that 17 (33%) of the babies were delivered to mothers who had received adequate tetanus toxoid immunization during pregnancy. The 17 babies were compared with the remaining 35 babies whose mothers had not received tetanus prophylaxis. The case fatality rates in these two groups were 12.5% and 60% respectively (P less than 0.01). This report shows that neonatal tetanus can occur in babies of mothers who were immunized with tetanus toxoid during pregnancy. Maternal immunity may, however, improve the prognosis in such infants.