[Tetanus in 1998].

In last decade gradual decrease in numbers of reported cases of tetanus was observed. In 1998, 22 cases of tetanus (15 women and 7 men) were reported in Poland. All those cases were among people of age 40 or more. In 54.5% of cases died. Case fatality increased with age, and among people 70 or older all cases were fatal. Among reported cases only 2(10%) people were immunized after injury and 20 (90%) were not. Cases of tetanus were more frequent in rural (14) than in urban (8) regions. The data show effectiveness of vaccination program in younger age groups, but they also show need for promotion of post exposure prophylaxis, especially among older people both in rural and in urban areas. No case of neonatal tetanus was noted in Poland since 1984.