Tetanus is commonly known as lockjaw.

Tetanus is commonly known as lockjaw.

• A. Rabies
• B. Diphtheria
• C. Lockjaw
• D. Pinkeye

Answer: (C)

Tetanus is remembered by its famous jaw stiffness, which earned it the nickname lockjaw. The disease is caused by Clostridium tetani producing tetanospasmin, a toxin that disrupts inhibitory control of muscles and leads to painful, generalized contractions, especially in the jaw, making it difficult to open the mouth. Because this jaw-spasm symptom is so characteristic, the common name lockjaw is often used to refer to tetanus. The other options describe different conditions—rabies with hydrophobia, diphtheria with a throat pseudomembrane, pinkeye as conjunctival inflammation—so they don’t fit the association with tetanus.

Tetanus is remembered by its famous jaw stiffness, which earned it the nickname lockjaw. The disease is caused by Clostridium tetani producing tetanospasmin, a toxin that disrupts inhibitory control of muscles and leads to painful, generalized contractions, especially in the jaw, making it difficult to open the mouth. Because this jaw-spasm symptom is so characteristic, the common name lockjaw is often used to refer to tetanus. The other options describe different conditions—rabies with hydrophobia, diphtheria with a throat pseudomembrane, pinkeye as conjunctival inflammation—so they don’t fit the association with tetanus.