| head tetanus | A type of local tetanus that follows wounds to the face and head; after a brief incubation (1-2 days) the facial and ocular muscles become paretic yet undergo repeated tetanic spasms. The throat and tongue muscles may also be affected. Synonym: cerebral tetanus, head tetanus, hydrophobic tetanus, rose cephalic tetanus, Rose's cephalic tetanus. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| puerperal tetanus | Tetanus occurring during the puerperium from infection of the obstetric wound. Synonym: postpartum tetanus, uterine tetanus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| hydrophobic tetanus | A type of local tetanus that follows wounds to the face and head; after a brief incubation (1-2 days) the facial and ocular muscles become paretic yet undergo repeated tetanic spasms. The throat and tongue muscles may also be affected. Synonym: cerebral tetanus, head tetanus, hydrophobic tetanus, rose cephalic tetanus, Rose's cephalic tetanus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neonatal tetanus | Tetanus occurring in newborn infants, usually due to infection of umbilical area with Clostridium tetani, often a result of ritualistic practices; has high fatality rate (about 60%). Synonym: neonatal tetanus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine | A vaccine consisting of diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis vaccine. It is usually given to infants three times at two-month intervals, generally at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. The vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. In most cases the vaccine causes only a temporary fever and discomfort, but in a few cases serious neurological side effects have been observed. (12 Dec 1998) |
| drug tetanus | Tonic spasms caused by strychnine or other tetanic. Synonym: toxic tetanus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| imitative tetanus | Conversion hysteria that resembles tetanus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| incomplete tetanus | Tetanus in which each stimulus causes a contraction to be initiated when the muscle has only partly relaxed from the previous contraction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| intermittent tetanus | 1. Hyperexcitability of nerves and muscles due to decrease in concentration of extracellular ionised calcium, which may be associated with such conditions as parathyroid hypofunction, vitamin D deficiency and alkalosis or result from ingestion of alkaline salts, it is characterised by carpopedal spasm, muscular twitching and cramps, laryngospasm with inspiratory stridor, hyperreflexia and choreiform movements. 2. Tetanus. (18 Nov 1997) |
| tetanus | 1. An acute, often fatal infectious disease caused by the anaerobic, spore forming bacillus Clostridium tetani, the agent most often enters the body through contaminated puncture wounds (for example those caused by metal nails, wood splinters or insect bites), although other portals of entry include burns, surgical wounds, cutaneous ulcers, injections sites of drug abusers, the umbilical stump of neonates (t, neonatorum) and the postpartum uterus. 2. Physiological tetanus, a state of sustained muscular contraction without periods of relaxation caused by repetitive stimulation of the motor nerve trunk at frequencies so high that individual muscle twitches are fused and cannot be distinguished from one another, also called tonic spasm and tetany. Origin: Gr. Tetanos, from tenein = to stretch (18 Nov 1997) |
| tetanus and gas gangrene antitoxins | A mixture of antibodies obtained from animals immunised against the toxins of Clostridium tetani, C. Perfringens, and C. Septicum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tetanus anticus | <medicine> A drawing of the body forward, in consequence of the spasmodic action of some of the muscles. Origin: NL, fr. Gr. Forward + to draw. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| tetanus antitoxin | Antitoxin specific for the toxin of Clostridium tetani. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tetanus antitoxin unit | The antitoxin activity of 0.3094 mg of standard tetanus antitoxin. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tetanus dorsalis | <neurology> A form of spasm in which the head and the heels are bent backward and the body bowed forward. Origin: Gr. Tonos = tension (18 Nov 1997) |