What are the symptoms of tetanus?

Early signs of tetanus include: 

• muscle spasms or tightness that begin in the jaw and neck 
• inability to open the mouth (lockjaw) swallowing problems
• breathing difficulties
• painful convulsions (fits)
• abnormal heart rhythms.

Occasionally a person may present with a fever and sometimes develop abnormal heart rhythms. Further complications include:

• pneumonia (infection of the lungs)
• broken bones from the muscle spasms
• respiratory failure
• cardiac arrest.