Mono- and polyneuritis after tetanus vaccination (1970--1977).

Due to the similarity of symptoms, 22 cases of mono- and polyneuritis after tetanus vaccination from our own records covering the years 1970--1977, as well as 6 additional cases taken from existing literature, are being analyzed. As expected, the number of male vaccinees exceede that of female vaccinees, the former being younger than the latter and women generally received less previous tetanus vaccination than men. Three out of four cases occurred during the summer season. The interval between vaccination and the first symptoms was shorter in mononeuritis than in polyneuritis. The prognosis of most cases was benign, irrespective of age, sex and tetanus vaccination history. Cases with delayed recovery only occurred during the summer months. In cases of polyneuritis it seems that the longer the interval between vaccination and the first symptoms, the slower the recovery. It has to be emphasized that the discussed cases of neuritis have to be viewed as extremely rare complications due to tetanus vaccine.