Neonatal tetanus treated with high dosage diazepam

Abstract

The combination of continuous intravenous infusion of diazepam (20-40 mg/kg per day) and intragastric phenobarbitone (10-15 mg/kg per day in 4 divided doses) was used to treat 19 cases of neonatal tetanus. Mortality was 2/19 (11%). This regimen was considered to have reduced the mortality and the need for artificial ventilation. The main side effects encountered were severe drowsiness, coma and apneic episodes which were reversible when the level of diazepam was reduced.