Tetanus--a method of scoring to determine the prognosis
Singh, G.P.; Sikka, P.K.; Gupta, M.M.
Indian Journal of Medical Sciences 40(5): 124-128
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5359 PMID: 3770841 Document Number: 269831
One hundred cases admitted in Rajendra Hospital, PATI-ALA, were taken up excluding cases of tetanus neonatorum and those who left hospital against medical advice. A method of scoring (maximum score 10) for determining the prognosis has been devised taking into consideration all important factors viz., incubation period, period of onset, age, sex, first symptom, temperature, pulse, severity of spasms and nature of injury. Mortality was highest in cases with score 7 and 8 (no case obtained score 9 or 10). It was zero in those with score up to 1. Cases with score 2 to 6 had increasing mortality rate from 7.14 to 90.90 percent. So this method can help the physician at an early stage to plan out the treatment according to severity of the disease. It can also help to assess the relative effectiveness of different forms of treatment for tetanus.