According to the Mayo Clinic, tetanus (lockjaw) leads to stiffness of the muscles, including the jaw muscles. This serious bacterial disease can cause breathing difficulties or threaten a person's life, warns the Mayo Clinic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) symptoms of tetanus that impact the jaw can be serious and cause death in one out of 10 cases.
Spasms
The National LIbrary of Medicine (NLM) reports that the C. tetani bacteria leads to the tetanus infection. As these spores enter the body, they can block the nerve signals from the spinal cord to the muscle. The NLM explains that this leads to severe muscle spasms that can be so strong they tear the muscle fibers and cause fractures of the spine. More muscles are impacted as the infection spreads. The NLM explains that the spasms can cause extreme pain when the stress is placed on the muscle tissues before tearing and the bones before breaking.
Stiffness
The stiffening of muscles due to the spread of infection is most commonly associated with lockjaw, according to the Mayo Clinic. Muscle stiffness can occur in the chest, abdomen and back muscles. The CDC indicates that individuals with tetanus can experience such stiffness that opening the mouth, swallowing or chewing can become impossible.
Other Symptoms
A complication of lockjaw, according to the Mayo Clinic, can be breathing difficulties. The severe spasms and stiffness can prevent the respiratory muscles from functioning properly to allow the individual to breathe. Other symptoms reported by the Mayo Clinic include fever or muscle irritability. The CDC points out that as tetanus progresses, individuals may experience extreme seizures, abnormal heart beats and death. The NLM adds that tetanus can cause uncontrolled urination or defecation, drooling and excessive sweating.
