BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuOpisthotonosBack arching; Abnormal posturing - opisthotonos; Decerebrate posture - opisthotonosOpisthotonos is a condition in which a person holds their body in an abnormal position. The person is usually rigid and arches their back, with their head thrown backward. If a person with opisthotonos lies on their back, only the back of their head and heels touch the surface they are on. Considerations Opisthotonos is much more common in infants and children than in adults. It is also more extreme in infants and children because of their less mature nervous systems. Causes Opisthotonos may occur in infants with meningitis. This is an infection of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Viruses, malaria, and syphilis are infections associated with opisthotonos. It may also occur as a sign of reduced brain function or injury to the nervous system.MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other causes may include:Arnold-Chiari syndrome, a problem with the structure of the brain Brain tumor Brain tumorA brain tumor is a group (mass) of abnormal cells that grow in the brain. This article focuses on primary brain tumors in children.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cerebral palsy Cerebral palsyCerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that involve the brain. This affects nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seei...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Gaucher disease, which causes a buildup of fatty tissue in certain organs Gaucher diseaseGaucher disease is a rare genetic disorder in which a person lacks an enzyme called glucocerebrosidase (GBA).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Growth hormone deficiency (occasionally) Growth hormone deficiencyGrowth hormone deficiency means the pituitary gland does not make enough growth hormone.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Poisoning including strychnine, some street drugs, and some medicines Metabolic disorders that run in families, such as glutaric aciduria and organic acidemias, Krabbe disease, maple syrup urine disease, and others Krabbe diseaseKrabbe disease is a rare genetic disorder of the nervous system. It is a type of brain disease called leukodystrophy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Maple syrup urine diseaseMaple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a disorder in which the body cannot break down certain parts of proteins. The urine of people with this conditio...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Severe electrolyte imbalance ElectrolyteElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Traumatic brain injury Stiff-person syndrome (a condition that makes a person rigid and have spasms) Bleeding in the brain TetanusTetanusTetanus is an infection of the nervous system with a type of bacteria that is potentially deadly, called Clostridium tetani (C tetani).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Some antipsychotic medicines can cause a side effect called acute dystonic reaction. Opisthotonos may be part of this reaction.AcuteAcute means sudden. Acute symptoms appear, change, or worsen rapidly. It is the opposite of chronic.Read Article Now Book Mark Article In rare cases, infants born to women who drink large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy may have opisthotonos due to alcohol withdrawal. Home Care A person who develops opisthotonos will need to be cared for in a hospital. When to Contact a Medical Professional Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if symptoms of opisthotonos occur. Typically, opisthotonos is a symptom of other conditions that are serious enough for a person to seek medical attention. What to Expect at Your Office Visit This condition will be evaluated in a hospital, and emergency measures may be taken.Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask about symptoms to look for the cause of opisthotonosPhysical examinationDuring a physical examination, a health care provider checks your body to determine if you do or do not have a physical problem. A physical examinati...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Questions may include:When did the symptoms start? Is the body positioning always the same? What other symptoms came before or with the abnormal positioning (such as fever, stiff neck, or headache)? Abnormal positioningDecerebrate posture is an abnormal body posture that involves the arms and legs being held straight out, the toes being pointed downward, and the hea...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Is there any recent history of illness? The physical examination will include a complete checkup of the nervous system.Tests may include:Blood and urine tests Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and cell counts Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultureA cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture is a laboratory test to look for bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the fluid that moves in the space around the spi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cell countsA CSF cell count is a test to measure the number of red and white blood cells that are in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is a clear fluid that is in...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the head CT scan of the headA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Electrolyte analysis ElectrolyteElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) Lumbar punctureCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...Read Article Now Book Mark Article MRI of the brainMRI of the brainA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment will depend on the cause. For example, if meningitis is the cause, medicines may be given.Open ReferencesReferencesBerger JR, Price R. Stupor and coma. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 5.Birch TB, Bleck TP. Tetanus (Clostridium tetani). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 244.Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Defects in metabolism of amino acids. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 103.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Meningitis(Condition) Review Date: 4/29/2023 Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ. 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OpisthotonosBack arching; Abnormal posturing - opisthotonos; Decerebrate posture - opisthotonosOpisthotonos is a condition in which a person holds their body in an abnormal position. The person is usually rigid and arches their back, with their head thrown backward. If a person with opisthotonos lies on their back, only the back of their head and heels touch the surface they are on. Considerations Opisthotonos is much more common in infants and children than in adults. It is also more extreme in infants and children because of their less mature nervous systems. Causes Opisthotonos may occur in infants with meningitis. This is an infection of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. Viruses, malaria, and syphilis are infections associated with opisthotonos. It may also occur as a sign of reduced brain function or injury to the nervous system.MeningitisMeningitis is an infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This covering is called the meninges.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other causes may include:Arnold-Chiari syndrome, a problem with the structure of the brain Brain tumor Brain tumorA brain tumor is a group (mass) of abnormal cells that grow in the brain. This article focuses on primary brain tumors in children.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cerebral palsy Cerebral palsyCerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that involve the brain. This affects nervous system functions, such as movement, learning, hearing, seei...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Gaucher disease, which causes a buildup of fatty tissue in certain organs Gaucher diseaseGaucher disease is a rare genetic disorder in which a person lacks an enzyme called glucocerebrosidase (GBA).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Growth hormone deficiency (occasionally) Growth hormone deficiencyGrowth hormone deficiency means the pituitary gland does not make enough growth hormone.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Poisoning including strychnine, some street drugs, and some medicines Metabolic disorders that run in families, such as glutaric aciduria and organic acidemias, Krabbe disease, maple syrup urine disease, and others Krabbe diseaseKrabbe disease is a rare genetic disorder of the nervous system. It is a type of brain disease called leukodystrophy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Maple syrup urine diseaseMaple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a disorder in which the body cannot break down certain parts of proteins. The urine of people with this conditio...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Seizures SeizuresA seizure is the physical changes in behavior that occurs during an episode of specific types of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. The term ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Severe electrolyte imbalance ElectrolyteElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Traumatic brain injury Stiff-person syndrome (a condition that makes a person rigid and have spasms) Bleeding in the brain TetanusTetanusTetanus is an infection of the nervous system with a type of bacteria that is potentially deadly, called Clostridium tetani (C tetani).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Some antipsychotic medicines can cause a side effect called acute dystonic reaction. Opisthotonos may be part of this reaction.AcuteAcute means sudden. Acute symptoms appear, change, or worsen rapidly. It is the opposite of chronic.Read Article Now Book Mark Article In rare cases, infants born to women who drink large amounts of alcohol during pregnancy may have opisthotonos due to alcohol withdrawal. Home Care A person who develops opisthotonos will need to be cared for in a hospital. When to Contact a Medical Professional Go to the emergency room or call 911 or the local emergency number if symptoms of opisthotonos occur. Typically, opisthotonos is a symptom of other conditions that are serious enough for a person to seek medical attention. What to Expect at Your Office Visit This condition will be evaluated in a hospital, and emergency measures may be taken.Your health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask about symptoms to look for the cause of opisthotonosPhysical examinationDuring a physical examination, a health care provider checks your body to determine if you do or do not have a physical problem. A physical examinati...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Questions may include:When did the symptoms start? Is the body positioning always the same? What other symptoms came before or with the abnormal positioning (such as fever, stiff neck, or headache)? Abnormal positioningDecerebrate posture is an abnormal body posture that involves the arms and legs being held straight out, the toes being pointed downward, and the hea...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Is there any recent history of illness? The physical examination will include a complete checkup of the nervous system.Tests may include:Blood and urine tests Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture and cell counts Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultureA cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture is a laboratory test to look for bacteria, fungi, and viruses in the fluid that moves in the space around the spi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Cell countsA CSF cell count is a test to measure the number of red and white blood cells that are in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF is a clear fluid that is in...Read Article Now Book Mark Article CT scan of the head CT scan of the headA head computed tomography (CT) scan uses many x-rays to create pictures of the head, including the skull, brain, eye sockets, and sinuses.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Electrolyte analysis ElectrolyteElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) Lumbar punctureCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collection is a test to look at the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. CSF acts as a cushion, protecting the b...Read Article Now Book Mark Article MRI of the brainMRI of the brainA head MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the brain and surrounding...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment will depend on the cause. For example, if meningitis is the cause, medicines may be given.Open ReferencesReferencesBerger JR, Price R. Stupor and coma. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 5.Birch TB, Bleck TP. Tetanus (Clostridium tetani). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 244.Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM. Defects in metabolism of amino acids. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 103.