Tetany - involuntary muscle contraction

Tetany - involuntary muscle contraction

What is tetany?

Tetany is a symptom that involves involuntary muscle contractions and an overstimulated peripheral nerve.

The underlying cause is an imbalance of electrolytes in the body - most often it is formed against the background of low calcium levels.

The patient suffers from the following complaint (mild symptoms):

  • Numbness around the mouth;
  • Muscle spasm;
  • Burning or tingling sensation in the limbs.

Acute signs of tetany are:

  • Laryngospasm;
  • Bronchospasm;
  • Painful muscle cramps;
  • Vomiting;
  • Attack;
  • Arrhythmia.

In a large percentage of clinical cases, tetany is not a life-threatening symptom, although sometimes the risk is much higher, therefore, during an acute course, call an emergency ambulance.

An acute episode may develop into such a complex and life-threatening pathology as acute necrosis of skeletal muscles.

Source:

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23129-tetany