tetany (tet'an-e)

Syn.: tetanoid convulsions. _A nervous affection, especially of children and young persons, characterized by attacks of intermittent tonic spasms of certain groups of muscles, generally of the upper extremities. It is suggested that the disease is connected with pathological changes in the parathyroid glands. acute relapsing t., epidemic t. An acute infectious t., lasting only a few weeks and occurring among the working cla es in Germany. secondary symptomatic t. Often connected with pyloric obstructions and consequent dilatation of the stomach and other grave gastric and intestinal cond i tetanus.] tions. [Lat., tetanilla, from Gr., tetanos, te'tia. Yaws.