Everyone Healthy Library
Body: Opisthotonus (Spasticity and Hyperextension of Whole Body into an Arching Position)
Sign or symptom reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
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Get urgent medical care now if there is any severe, sudden, rapidly worsening or worrying symptom, especially:
- chest pain, pressure or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back
- trouble breathing, blue lips, severe wheeze or choking
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- collapse, fainting, seizure, confusion or extreme drowsiness
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- severe abdominal pain, severe headache, stiff neck or sudden vision change
- signs of severe dehydration, sepsis, high fever with worsening illness, or symptoms in a baby/young child that concern you
Full information
Body: Opisthotonus (Spasticity and Hyperextension of Whole Body into an Arching Position)
A type of abnormal posturing in which the body is held in an arched position. The person is generally rigid, with their head thrown back and back arched. Opisthotonus is more common in infants and children than adults. A person who develops opisthotonus will need to be cared for in a hospital setting.
Conditions linked to this sign/symptom
1Drugs where this is listed as a side effect
0No drug side-effect links are listed yet.