Tetanus

Abstract

To the Editor: The article by LaForce et al., "Tetanus in the United States (1965–1966)," reviews 507 cases of tetanus that were reported to the NCDC over that period.¹ We believe this is a minimal figure, and that the true incidence of tetanus in the United States is greater. A recent study done by us² showed that only four out of 17 cases of tetanus in Lexington, Kentucky, hospitals were reported to the Health Department.As LaForce and his associates point out, the case-fatality ratio is still very high, especially in the extreme age groups — for example, 77 per . . .