What does the word tetanus mean?
-
-
A disease caused by tetanospasmin, a powerful protein toxin produced by CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI. Tetanus usually occurs after an acute injury, such as a puncture wound or laceration. Generalized tetanus, the most common form, is characterized by tetanic muscular contractions and hyperreflexia. Localized tetanus presents itself as a mild condition with manifestations restricted to muscles near the wound. It may progress to the generalized form.
-
[ Greek] An acute disease in which there is a state of persistent tonic spasm of the voluntary muscles, heightened at intervals by short, acute exacerbations. T. may be due to injury, especially punctured and lacerated wounds( Traumatic t.), to exposure to cold and wet( Idiopathic t., Rheumatic t.), to infection of the umbilicus or other causes in new-born infants( T. neonatorum), or as a result of abortion or parturition( Puerperal t.). Due to Bacillus tetani, which has but little tendency to diffuse or multiply in the body, but produces an extremely powerful poison. Symptoms: rigidity and cramp-like pain in the muscles of the neck, the jaw( producing opisthotonos( T. dorsalis, T. posticus), the abdomen( producing sometimes emprosthotonos or T. anticus, and pleurothotonos or T. lateralis), and the respiratory muscles( producing asphyxia). All these symptoms are aggravated during the paroxysmal exacerbations. A peculiar variety is the T. hydrophobicus, or Cephalic t., caused by injuries about the head, and characterized by facial paralysis on the side of the injury and pharyngeal and respiratory spasm as in hydrophobia. Cerebral t., a condition marked by excitement, strange desires, and epileptoid convulsions, produced by the inoculation of t. antitoxin directly into the brain of susceptible animals. Intermittent t., Partial t., tetany. T. is commonly fatal, death resulting from asphyxia, sudden failure of the heart, or exhaustion. Treatment: rest in dark room: liquid nourishment through the mouth, nose, or rectum; injection of the serum of immunized animals( T. serum, T. antitoxin) or of carbolic acid or sublimate; sedatives and antispasmodics( chloroform, amyl nitrite, the bromides, chloral, calabar bean, opium, belladonna, gelsemium, and cannabis indica).
-
[ Greek] A tetanic contraction; a continuous state of spasm and rigidity of a muscle, such as is produced by a series of rapidly repeated stimuli.
-
Each person working in the medical industry sometimes needs to know how to define a word from medical terminology. For example - how to explain tetanus? Here you can see the medical definition for tetanus. Medical-dictionary.cc is your online dictionary, full of medical definitions.