What Is Tetanus?
Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky
3. Are Certain People at Greater Risk Than Others?
Anyone who has not received sufficient vaccination is at risk for tetanus. The disease can be more serious in pregnant women who have not been immunized. A pregnant mother can also pass the infection on to her unborn baby. Neonatal tetanus develops within 28 days following birth. It claimed the lives of 34,000 infants worldwide in 2015.
Today, tetanus is more prevalent in developing countries where people do not have access to the vaccine. In countries where vaccination is routine, it is much less common. There are only about 30 reported cases per year in the United States.
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