1. An acute infectious disease of the central nervous system caused by an exotoxin of the tetanus bacillus.
2. A sustained muscular contraction resulting from a rapid series of nerve impulses.
3. An acute and serious infection of the central nervous system caused by bacterial infection of open wounds; spasms of the jaw and laryngeal muscles may occur during the late stages.

The disease manifests by the onset of extremely painful muscular contractions that usually begin gradually but may appear suddenly.

The contractions may be of brief duration or last some weeks.

• The first sign is stiffness of the jaw, esophageal muscles, and some of the muscles of the neck.
• The jaws become rigidly fixed (trismus), the voice is altered, and the muscles of the face contract, producing a wild excited expression and a combination of bitter laughter and crying.
• The muscles of the back and extremities become tetanic.
• The paroxysms are reflex and are excited by noises, currents of air, and irritation of bedclothes.
• The person's temperature usually rises and may become extremely high.
• The patient also suffers from hunger, thirst, and lack of sleep.
• The mind is usually clear.
• This disease is usually fatal, with the patient expiring from asphyxia or exhaustion.

Tetanus produced by a drug: such as, strychnine.

Tetanus in which muscle spasms occur first in the lower part of the body and then spread upward, finally involving muscles of the head and neck.

A form of tetanus due to a wound of the head; especially, one near the eyebrow.

It is marked by trismus (prolonged spasm of the jaw muscles), facial paralysis on one side, and pronounced dysphagia (when swallowing is difficult or painful). It resembles rabies and is often fatal.

1. A latent infection in a healed wound, reactivated on opening the wound.
2. A form of tetanus in which the onset and progress of the disease are slower and more prolonged and the symptoms are less severe.

Tetanus in which the site of the entry of the organism is not known.

Tetanus in which muscle spasms occur first in the head and neck and later are manifested in other muscles of the body.

Tetanus marked by spasticity of a group of muscles near the wound.

Trismus, tonic contraction of jaw muscles, is usually absent.

Tetanus of very young infants, usually resulting from the infection of the navel caused by using non-sterile techniques in ligating the umbilical cord.