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What does the symptom of Chvostek mean? What is this symptom? What does his presence show? Is this a normal reflex? Could Chvostek’s symptom mean health problems? Does Chvostek’s symptom mean serious health problems? Should an unpleasant diagnosis be expected? The question is answered by the drug. Katarzyna Darecka.
What does the symptom of Chvostek indicate?
Hello and welcome. I’ve been to the doctor recently. I went to the neurologist because I had a strange feeling in my face. I don’t quite know how to describe it – sort of like numbness and tingling in the face, mouth. Sometimes it felt as if there was even a grimace on them. The neurologist performed various tests, checking, among other things, reflexes. At one point he hit the hammer in the jaw area, which made me feel like a strange grimace. The doctor explained to me that it’s called symptom of Chvostek, however, did not explain exactly what it was about.
I got referrals for tests, but this symptom is bothering me. I would like to ask what the Chvostek symptom shows? Is this a normal reflex that should be showing up for me, or is it a reflex that could indicate a bigger problem? Is Chvostek’s symptom serious? Should I expect to be diagnosed with some disease soon? I don’t know what to think about it, I’m afraid it’s something serious. Thank you very much in advance for your answer.
The doctor explains what the symptom of Chvostek indicates
Chvostek symptom can be observed when having hit hammer into the facial nerveApproximately 2 cm in front of the earlobe just below the zygomatic process will occur facial muscle spasm. It proves the presence of latent tetany. Another symptom that reveals latent tetany is symptom of Trousseau, that is, after the blood pressure cuff has been inflated and left on the arm for 3 minutes, onset of a symptom called “obstetrician’s hand”, characterized by symmetrical tremors and symmetrical tonic contractions of the hand muscles. Tetany may indicate hypocalcaemia, i.e. serum calcium concentration below 2.25 mmol / l.
Do causes of hypocalcemia include insufficient calcium intake with food, impaired calcium absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (as a result of vitamin D deficiency, malabsorption syndrome or digestion), excessive calcium deposition in soft tissues or bones as a result of acute pancreatitis, following surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism as side effects of drugs such as bisphosphonates or denosumab due to excessive loss of calcium in the urine, e.g. with loop diuretics, hypoparathyroidism or tissue resistance to parathyroid hormone, hypomagnesaemia. The Chvostek symptom, however, is neither very sensitive nor specific for hypocalcemia, as it may occur in as many as 25% of patients. healthy patients, and in 29 percent. Chwostek’s symptom is absent in cases of hypocalcaemia.
The best course of action in your case will be to wait for the results of laboratory tests, if it turns out that the level of calcium in your blood is too low, your doctor will perform an appropriate diagnosis of the causes of hypocalcaemia and prescribe the appropriate treatment. However, if it turns out that you have Chvostek’s symptom naturally, physiologically, it is most likely that you do not need to diagnose the causes of the symptom.
– Lek. Katarzyna Darecka
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