The IT IT Study (The Incubation Time in Tetanus Study)

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of incubation time on morbidity and mortality in patients with tetanus.

Study Design: Cross Sectional Descriptive Study

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out in the Medicine Department of Saidu Hospital from Jan 2009 to Dec 2012.

Patients and Methods: A total of 30 patients both males and females were included. These tetanus Patients were classified in two Groups. Group I (Short incubation period i.e. less than 7 Days) and Group II (Long incubation period i.e. seven or more than 7days).  The association of short and long incubation time with mortality and morbidity was assessed.

Results: There was no mortality in this study. While morbidity was assessed in terms of hospital stay, whether stay was more than 10 days or less than 10 days. In Group I, 17 (85%) patients had a hospital stay of more than 10 days while in Group II Only 3(30%) had a hospital stay of more than 10 days. The results were analyzed using the chi square test of independence. The p value was 0.003.

Conclusion: We conclude that short incubation period has definitely association with morbidity which in this study was hospital stay of more than 10 days.