tetany
Low-calcium muscle seizures
Tetany is a condition of involuntary muscle spasms and cramping, typically caused by low calcium levels in the blood or other metabolic disturbances.
The muscles contract painfully and may lock in rigid positions.
The patient developed tetany after thyroid surgery.
Not to be confused with tetanus, which is a bacterial infection.
Deficient serum calcium levels
- Chvostek signFacial nerve hyperexcitability test
- laryngospasmInvoluntary vocal cord closure
- muscle contractionFibers tensing and shortening
- paresthesiaAbnormal skin sensation
twitching · cramps · convulsions · stridor · numbness · tingling · calcium deficiency · parathyroid
Deficient serum calcium levels
- alkalosisAbnormally high blood pH
- hyperventilationAbnormally rapid respiration
- vitamin D deficiencyInadequate sunshine hormone levels
- malabsorptionFailed intestinal nutrient uptake
renal failure · thyroidectomy · DiGeorge syndrome · pancreatitis
Abnormally rapid respiration
- panic attackSudden intense fear episode
- stress-inducedCaused by psychological pressure
- breathlessnessDifficulty drawing air
- palpitationsAwareness of abnormal heartbeat
lightheadedness · finger numbness · chest tightness · air hunger · psychogenic
hypocalcemia
Deficient serum calcium levels
- Chvostek signFacial nerve hyperexcitability test
- laryngospasmInvoluntary vocal cord closure
- muscle contractionFibers tensing and shortening
paresthesia · twitching · cramps · convulsions · stridor · numbness · tingling · calcium deficiency · parathyroid · electrolyte imbalance
hypocalcemia
Deficient serum calcium levels
- alkalosisAbnormally high blood pH
- hyperventilationAbnormally rapid respiration
- vitamin D deficiencyInadequate sunshine hormone levels
malabsorption · renal failure · thyroidectomy · DiGeorge syndrome · pancreatitis
hyperventilation
Abnormally rapid respiration
- panic attackSudden intense fear episode
- stress-inducedCaused by psychological pressure
- breathlessnessDifficulty drawing air
palpitations · lightheadedness · finger numbness · chest tightness · air hunger · psychogenic
- deficiency symptomsscurvy, beriberi, pellagra, anemia, goiter
- muscle movementscontraction, flexion, extension, twitch, spasm
- crampsmuscle cramp, leg cramp, charley horse, calf cramp, foot cramp
- bone disordersosteoporosis, rickets, bone fracture, broken bone, bone loss
- mineral disordersiron deficiency, calcium deficiency, magnesium deficiency, potassium deficiency, hypocalcemia
- calcium biologycalcium influx, calcium deficiency, calcium supplements, hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia
tetanyflaccidity
Lack of firmness
muscle relaxation · hypotonia · relaxation · flaccid paralysis · limpness
- tetanus shotImmunization against bacterial spasm disease