What is the Chvostek sign and what does it indicate?

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Multiple Choice

What is the Chvostek sign and what does it indicate?

Explanation:
Chvostek sign tests how easily nerves and muscles react when calcium is low. Tap the facial nerve just in front of the ear, and if the facial muscles twitch on that same side, it signals hypocalcemia. Low calcium lowers the threshold for nerve firing, making muscles contract with minimal stimulation. This sign helps point to conditions that reduce calcium levels, like parathyroid problems or vitamin D deficiency. The other descriptions don’t fit this mechanism: the sign isn’t jaw pain from high potassium, cheek numbness, or tongue twitching from high calcium.

Chvostek sign tests how easily nerves and muscles react when calcium is low. Tap the facial nerve just in front of the ear, and if the facial muscles twitch on that same side, it signals hypocalcemia. Low calcium lowers the threshold for nerve firing, making muscles contract with minimal stimulation. This sign helps point to conditions that reduce calcium levels, like parathyroid problems or vitamin D deficiency. The other descriptions don’t fit this mechanism: the sign isn’t jaw pain from high potassium, cheek numbness, or tongue twitching from high calcium.

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