Chvostek sign

The Chvostek sign or Weiss sign is one of the signs of tetany in humans. When the facial nerve is tapped at the angle of the jaw, the facial muscles on the same side of the face will contract momentarily (typically a twitch of the nose or lips) because the tetany causes hypocalcaemia and hyperexcitability of nerves. Trousseau's sign is also often used to detect early tetany. Also sometimes seen in anxiety states.

Dr F. Chvostek was an Austrian physician; he published his discovery in 1876. Dr Nathan Weiss independently described it in 1883.

References

• Chvostek F. Beitrag zur Tetanie. Wien Med Press 1876;17:1201-3, 1225-7, 1253-8, 1313-16.
• Weiss N. Centralbl Gesammt Ther 1883;1:9.

External link

• Chvostek's sign (Whonamedit.com)