The following symptoms and complaints may indicate tetanus (lockjaw):
Leading symptoms
- Painful tonic – persistent muscle spasms, usually starting at the temporomandibular joint – trismus – lockjaw.
- Clonic – twitching muscle spasms.
- Rigidity (muscle stiffness) – confined to one area or spreading from the shoulder region.
- Amplification of cramps under the influence of external stimuli.
Associated symptoms
Disturbances of the autonomic nervous system
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Tachycardia – heartbeat too fast: > 100 beats per minute.
- Hyperhidrosis – increased sweating.
- Hypotension – low blood pressure
- Bradycardia – too slow heartbeat: < 60 beats per minute.
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
Other symptoms
- Drinking weakness in infants
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath) – due to stiffening of the respiratory muscles.
- Dysphagia (dysphagia)
- Fever