an acute infectious bacterial disease characterized by tonic spasm of voluntary muscles especially of the jaw and caused by an exotoxin of a clostridium (Clostridium tetani) which is usually introduced through a wound, a rare but often fatal disease that affects the central nervous system by causing painful muscular contractions, reostunud haavas kasvava bakteri Clostridium tetani tekitatud haigus, millele on omased lihaste tugevad krambihood ja sageli surm hingamislihaste halvatuse tõttu