[Post-circumcision Tetanus: Epidemiological, Clinical, Prognostic and Evolutionary Aspects of 16 Cases Collected at the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Fann Hospital (Dakar)].

: This retrospective, descriptive study carried out in the Infectious Diseases Department of CHNU, Fann from 1st January 2012 to 3st December 2016 aimed to describe the epidemiological aspects and the course of post-circumcision tetanus and to formulate public health recommendations. During our study period, 16 cases of post-circumcision tetanus were collected out of a total of 452 patients with tetanus, equivalent to a rate of 3.5%. The median age was 8 years (3-40). None of the patients had a vaccination card. In 63% of cases, circumcision was performed at home, by a practitioner whose qualification was not documented in 63% of cases. All signs of tetanus were found with trismus (100%), dysphagia (63%) and paroxysms (88%). These were mostly Mollaret stage II forms in 14 cases, and grade 3 Dakar score in 7 cases. The median duration of hospitalization was 10 days [6-15]. Mechanical or infectious complications were noted in two cases, with a lethality rate of 13%. Post-circumcision tetanus is a reality in Senegal. Good community awareness, continuous training of staff and implementation of vaccination catch-up strategies for children of circumcised age should eradicate this form of tetanus.