Maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination: validation survey in 4 States and 2 union territories in India, May 2015

Tetanus is an acute, potentially fatal disease caused by a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. Maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) are forms of generalized tetanus affecting mothers during pregnancy, due to unclean abortion or delivery, and infants during the first month of life. Neonatal tetanus (NT) infection begins when C. tetani spores are introduced into the umbilical tissue during delivery. The organisms produce a neurotoxin at the site of the umbilical cord wound which passes into the blood stream of the newborn infant and into the central nervous system. This

results in motor neuron hyperactivity, hypertonia and muscle spasms. Death occurs as a result of paralysis of the respiratory muscles and/or inability to feed.