Lockjaw: What’s the Cause?

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There are two medical conditions that are commonly referred to as lockjaw and have different causes. Lockjaw prevents the sufferer from opening the mouth normally, and its most common causes include inflammation of the muscles or tissue in the jaw area, a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), or a complication of tonsillitis. Tetanus causes muscle spasms and sustained muscle contractions throughout the body, including the jaw, and is caused by an infection with a bacterium called Clostridium tetani.

trismus

Any restriction or inability of a person to open their mouth can be referred to as lockjaw. Severe cases are often referred to as lockjaw. There are many possible causes, including trauma and various infections and diseases affecting the mouth or jaw area. Central nervous system disorders might also prevent a person from opening their mouth normally. Dental surgery, such as having a molar extracted, can cause inflammation that could also cause lockjaw.

Tetanus

One of the symptoms of tetanus is a tightening of the jaw muscles. This can gradually make manipulating the jaw difficult, affecting speech and swallowing. Left untreated, tetanus can cause death, although this has become quite rare due to vaccinations and the practice of re-inoculating people who have suffered cuts from dirty metal objects.

Tetanus is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani. This disease was once thought to be caused by cuts gotten around horses, which are frequent victims of tetanus. Clostridium tetani, on the other hand, lives abundantly in soils all over the world. It can survive for about 40 years.

The incidence of tetanus is most frequent in third world countries where vaccinations are not routine. In fact, newborns account for about half of cases in countries that are unable to adhere to modern standards of cleanliness or where many people cannot afford the cost of vaccination. The main cause of exposure to tetanus in these countries is the lack of proper care of the umbilical cord stump, which then becomes infected with Clostridium tetani.

Left untreated, tetanus has mortality rates of about 30 percent for adults and 60 percent for children. It is so deadly because the causative bacterium is a neurotoxin. As the disease progresses, all of the facial muscles may tighten up, causing lockjaw.

The sufferer’s back, stomach, and lower body may also be affected, creating a stiff but still painful paralysis. A side effect of the disease is violent convulsions or muscle spasms, called tetany. The disease is extremely painful, particularly for victims suffering from tetany.

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