Neonatal tetanus

Neonatal tetanus (trismus nascentium) is a form of generalised tetanus that occurs in newborns. Infants who have not acquired passive immunity from an immunized mother are at risk. It usually occurs through infection of the unhealed umbilical stump, particularly when the stump is cut with a non-sterile instrument. Neonatal tetanus mostly occurs in developing countries, particularly those with the least developed health infrastructure. It is rare in developed countries.

Neonatal Tetanus
Other namesMaternal neonatal tetanus (MNT)
Neonatal tetanus
SpecialtyPediatrics, Infectious disease

The WHO recommend that unimmunized pregnant women receive tetanus toxoid in the pregnancy to prevent the disease in their baby once born.

Globally, deaths from neonatal tetanus was 787,000 in the early 1980s. In 1989, the WHO launched a programme to vaccinate all pregnant women, and deaths from neonatal tetanus dropped to 25,000 in 2018.

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