NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)
Medical & Surgical Nursing
Easy
Trismus, risus sardonicus and opisthotonos are the features of?
Appeared in: NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)
Explanation
- The question asks to identify the disease associated with a specific triad of symptoms: trismus, risus sardonicus, and opisthotonos.
- Tetanus, caused by the neurotoxin from Clostridium tetani, classically presents with these signs due to uncontrolled muscle spasms.
- Trismus (lockjaw) is the spasm of jaw muscles, making it difficult to open the mouth.
- Risus sardonicus is a sardonic smile caused by facial muscle spasms.
- Opisthotonos is severe arching of the back from spasms of extensor muscles. This combination is pathognomonic for tetanus.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Diphtheria's hallmark signs are a thick, gray pseudomembrane in the pharynx and a 'bull neck' appearance from cervical lymphadenopathy. It does not cause the spastic paralysis seen in tetanus.
- Option B: Plague, particularly the bubonic form, is characterized by the development of 'buboes'—painfully swollen and inflamed lymph nodes, typically in the groin, armpit, or neck. It does not cause generalized muscle spasms.
- Option C: Q-fever is a zoonotic infection that typically presents as a flu-like illness with high fever, severe headache, and myalgia. It can also cause atypical pneumonia or hepatitis. It is not associated with spastic paralysis.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Clinical features of Tetanus as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
- Recognizing the triad of trismus, risus sardonicus, and opisthotonos is critical for the early diagnosis and urgent management of tetanus, which is a medical emergency.
- Nursing care is paramount and focuses on managing spasms, maintaining airway, and providing a quiet, non-stimulating environment to prevent triggering painful contractions.
- Tetanus is almost entirely preventable through vaccination (tetanus toxoid). Nurses play a key role in immunization schedules and wound management, including post-exposure prophylaxis.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key clinical signs presented in the question stem: 'Trismus', 'risus sardonicus', and 'opisthotonos'.
- This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of the classic presentations of various infectious diseases.
- Systematically review the options and recall the hallmark features of each disease.
- Match the triad of symptoms to the correct disease. Tetanus is uniquely characterized by this specific combination of muscle spasms.
- Eliminate the other options by confirming their distinct presentations: Diphtheria (pseudomembrane), Plague (buboes), and Q-fever (flu-like illness/pneumonia).
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Clinical features of Tetanus
- Stem keywords: Trismus, risus sardonicus, opisthotonos
- Lead-in keywords: features of
- Negative lead-in flag: false
Question ID
Q9T5p0KWerI5gMhf9KABc0
Reference Book
E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 1146-1148
E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 269-271
E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 1826-1828
Practise the full NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
More Neurologic Function Questions
- Which of the following is a differentiating test between mucus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from a nasal discharge?
- The nurse is posted in ED and patient comes with seizure. The priority management of seizure patient is:
- In the following picture, little finger under jaw is used because for:
- Parkinson's disease is characterized by deficiency of neurotransmitter.
- All of the following are complications of spinal cord injury (SCI); EXCEPT:
- A Patient with Parkinson's syndrome receives continuous levodopa to prevent what complication?
- During RTA, a person has a stroke, then his pupils are?
- A 28 year old patient was admitted to the hospital for a suspected brain tumor. While assessing the patient, the nurse would keep in mind that the mo…
- A patient develops an acute confusion (delirium) state. What would be the priority nursing Intervention?
- Pain at lower back and legs when flexed of knee flexes is known as?
More NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-1) Questions
- A patient is getting IV fluid through peripheral cannula, shows redness, cool, oedema and decreased flow rate. The possible diagnosis is?
- The Endemic Disease that occurs every 4 years of interval is called?
- The nurse witnesses a neighbour's husband sustain a fall from the roof of his house. The nurse rushes to the victim and determines the need to open t…
- In a patient IV site shows redness, heat, tenderness, decrease flow rate, are the classical sign of?
- Which measure is used for growth monitoring at Anganwadi centre?
- Which of the following muscles should always be avoided for IM Injection to prevent sciatic nerve injury?
- The doses of Elemental Iron and folic acid in Anaemia Mukht Bharat (AMB) program for pregnant women?
- A child is suffering from diarrhoea with restlessness, agitation and irritability. Which of the following clinical sign is not indicating to severe d…
- A 45 year female client with clinical manifestation of worthlessness, hopelessness, and not involved in her family activities and she is not eating f…
- A 7-year-old child is brought to the ER at midnight by his mother after symptoms appeared abruptly. The nurse's initial assessment reveals a temperat…