Definition

Noun: 1. A clinical neurological syndrome: A medical condition characterized by involuntary, often painful, muscle contractions. These contractions are not constant but occur in episodes or spasms, separated by periods of normal muscle function or reduced symptoms. It is associated with specific metabolic imbalances.

Usage

• Medical Diagnosis: The term is used by healthcare professionals to diagnose and describe a specific pattern of neuromuscular symptoms related to electrolyte disturbances.
  • The patient's blood tests revealed hypocalcemia, explaining the symptoms of intermittent tetanus.
  • A key feature distinguishing it from continuous tetanus is its intermittent nature.

Advanced Usage

• Pathophysiology Context: In detailed medical discussion, "intermittent tetanus" specifies the symptomatic manifestation of underlying conditions like hypoparathyroidism, where low parathyroid hormone leads to low calcium, increasing neuromuscular excitability.
  • The intermittent tetanus observed was a direct consequence of post-surgical hypoparathyroidism.

Variants and Related Words

• Tetany (n): This is a more common general term for the condition of involuntary muscle spasms or cramps caused by factors like calcium deficiency. "Intermittent tetanus" is a specific clinical description of tetany.
• Hypocalcemic tetany (n): A more precise term linking the muscle spasms directly to low calcium levels in the blood.

Synonyms

• Tetany: The primary synonym, referring to the syndrome of muscle spasms and cramps.
• Latent tetany: A term sometimes used when symptoms are mild or provoked only by specific tests.

Notes on Meaning

• Distinction from "Tetanus" (the infection): It is critical to distinguish "intermittent tetanus" from "tetanus" caused by the bacterium . They share the name due to the similarity of muscle spasms (tetany), but their causes are completely different. "Intermittent tetanus" is a metabolic syndrome, while "tetanus" (lockjaw) is an infectious disease.
  • The intermittent tetanus was due to a vitamin D deficiency, not a bacterial infection.

Noun

1. clinical neurological syndrome characterized by muscular twitching and cramps and (when severe) seizures; associated with calcium deficiency (hypoparathyroidism) or vitamin D deficiency or alkalosis