en Infectious Disease Infectious Disease Original Research Original Research An analysis of 382 patients, aged 12 and over, admitted to the infectious disease ward of Amin Hospital in Isfahan over a 20 year period with clinically diagnosed tetanus is reported. The study comprised 297 patients, 77.7% from rural areas and 85(22.3%) from the city of Isfahan. The male- female ratio for both groups was approximately 2:1. Rural patients were younger and showed a lower crude case fatality rate. Traditional practices such as application of cow manure to the wounds, and unhygienic circumcision and ear piercing were important contributing factors in developing tetanus, demonstrating a need for health education in rural communities. 211 214 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-298-749&slc_lang=en&sid=1 FEREYDOUN SOHRABI 20031947532846006461 20031947532846006461 Yes From the' Department of Infectious Diseases, and the Department of Statistics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of lran. ALI FARZAN 20031947532846006462 20031947532846006462 No