Title:Chvostek's Sign in Paediatric Practice
Volume: 10
Issue: 3
Author(s): Zeeshaan U. Hasan, Rania Absamara and Mas Ahmed
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Chvostek’s sign, epilepsy, hypocalcaemia, latent tetany, migraine, pediatrics.
Abstract: Chvostek’s Sign was first described in 1876, as a clinical clue associated with patients who suffered from latent
tetany, and is induced by percussion of the angle of the jaw. However, over the years many clinicians have called into
question the strength of the association with latent tetany, particularly in paediatric practice. This review examines the
variation in techniques used to elicit the sign in studies conducted on this phenomenon in children as well as how differences
in the classification of a positive Chvostek’s sign have lead to varied reports on the strength of the association. Furthermore,
an appraisal of the literature regarding the proposed mechanism of Chvostek’s sign is reported alongside analysing
other diseases which have been associated with Chvostek’s sign to uncover any unifying mechanism for the presence
of this clinical sign in children.
