Tbilisi Medical Academy
About Us
Rector's Message
History
Mission, Goals and Strategy
Strategic Development Plan
Structure
Administration Staff
Academic Staff
Documents
Schools
Medicine
School of Medicine
Medicine in English
Dean's Message
Postgraduate
Teacher's Guide
Public Health School
News
Research
Granting Programs
Scientific Research
Scientific Activities
Kid's University
International Affairs
About Department
International Relations
Admission Procedure
Erasmus+
International Mobility
CBHE Projects
Past Projects
AMO
Partner Companies
Blog
Institutional Culture
ქარ
Eng
The Grinning Death
The Grinning Death – is a deadly disease characterized by painful contractions of body muscles; prolonged cramps of the patient's mimic muscles were recognized as an "ironic smile." The convulsive seizure specific posture, opisthotonus, is depicted on a painting of surgeon, Sir Charles Bell (1809).
The disease is caused by a bacterium, Clostridium tetani. It enters the body through the wound contaminated with a soil. Due to the name of the bacterium, the disease was called tetanus. It was associated with wars and natural disasters, although today tetanus can be prevented by vaccination.