Symptoms:

• Spasms and tightening of the jaw muscle ("lockjaw")
• Stiffness and spasms of various muscle groups
  • Neck muscles
  • Chest muscles
  • Abdominal muscles
  • Back muscles, often causing arching (opisthotonos)
• Tetanic seizures (painful, powerful muscle contractions)
• Irritability
• Fever

• Excessive sweating
• Swallowing difficulty
• Hand or foot spasms
• Drooling
• Uncontrolled urination or defecation

Signs and tests:

Your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history. No specific lab test is available to determine the diagnosis of tetanus.

Other tests may be used to rule out meningitis, rabies, strychnine poisoning, and other diseases with similar symptoms.