Opisthotonos is a symptom of several different medical conditions, in which the body is seized in an unusual posture. It most often involves severe arching of the back and rigidity, with the patient's head thrown
backward. When a patient experiencing this abnormal posture lies on his or her back, only their heels and the back of their head will touch the supporting surface. Opisthotonos can affect both infants, children, and adults, but it far more common in infants and children. Part of the reason for it being more exaggerated in infants and children is due to their nervous systems being less mature.
Causes of Abnormal Posture
Infants with meningitis can experience opisthotonos. Meningitis can be life-threatening and is characterized by the meninges (protective membrane of the spinal cord and brain) being inflamed. Nervous system injury or depressed brain function can cause abnormal posture.
Certain drugs, specifically antipsychotic medications (especially phenothiazines), can cause an acute dystonic reaction and abnormal posture can be part of this reaction.
In rare instances, babies who are born to mothers who consume large quantities of alcohol when they are pregnant can experience this as a complication of alcohol withdrawal.
Other causes of abnormal posture can include brain tumors, certain types of chemical poisoning (such as organic acidemias and glutaric aciduria), meningitis, severe head injury, bleeding in the brain, a brain structure issues known as Arnold-Chiari syndrome, growth hormone deficiency, a metabolic disorder known as Krabbe disease, seizures, stiff-person syndrome, tetanus, and a metabolic disorder known as Gaucher disease.
When Should You Consult a Doctor About Abnormal Posture?
If opisthotonos is present, it needs to be evaluated immediately. Some of the causes, such as meningitis, seizures, bleeding in the brain, severe head injury, tetanus, and medication reactions, can be life-threatening. This issue tends to present as a later symptom of the conditions that cause it, making it even more crucial to seek emergency medical attention.
How Will a Doctor Evaluate Abnormal Posture?
When you see a doctor to have opisthotonos evaluated, they will begin by taking a personal medical history and a physical exam in which they will evaluate the patient and their posture, and ask some basic questions
about other symptoms, when the abnormal posture began, and if the posture is always the same. During the physical exam, the patient's nervous system will also be completely assessed.
Other diagnostic tests can include a CT scan of the head, urine and blood tests, a lumbar puncture, an MRI of the head, and an electrolyte analysis.
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