INFORMATION ON INFANTILE HYPOTONIA

Infantile Hypotonia generally Found In Children. Hypotonia Is The Amount Of Tension Or Resistance To Movement In A Muscle. It Is Not As Same As Muscle Weakness generally found in children hypotonia is the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle. It is not as same as muscle weakness but it can co-exist with muscle weakness. Hypotonia may be caused by trauma, environmental factors, or by genetic, muscle, or central nervous system disorders. Hypotonia starts in adults, it may be due to cerebellar degeneration.
Hypotonia is not a specific medical disorder, but a potential manifestation of many different diseases and disorders that affect motor nerve control by the brain or muscle strength. The long-term effects of hypotonia on a child's development and later life depend primarily on the severity of the muscle weakness and the nature of the cause.

SYNONYMS OF INFANTILE HYPOTONIA

We can also name Infantile Hypotonia as:-

1. Low Muscle Tone
2. Benign Congenital Hypotonia
3. Congenital Hypotonia
4. Congenital Muscle Hypotonia
5. Congenital Muscle Weakness
6. Hypotonia Congenita
7. Floppy Baby Syndrome

CAUSES OF INFANTILE HYPOTONIA

It is not be possible to find the cause of the hypotonia.
Hypotonia may be caused by trauma, environmental factors, or by genetic, muscle, or central nervous system disorders.
The causes of hypotonia are varied and numerous. Some involve trauma to, or diseases of, the brain or spinal cord, while others affect the peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junction, or the muscles themselves.

SYMPTOMS OF INFANTILE HYPOTONIA

Typical symptoms also include problems with mobility and posture, breathing and speech difficulties, lethargy, ligament and joint laxity, and poor reflexes. Hypotonia does not affect intellect. However, depending on the underlying condition, some children may take longer to develop social, language, and reasoning skills.

DIAGNOSIS OF INFANTILE HYPOTONIA

Differential diagnosis of infantile hypotonia can be diagnosed by use of the electromyograph and the developmental and neurologic examination.

Electromyography is useful in the examination of hypotonic infants with suspected neuromuscular disease. The Electromyography predicted the final diagnosis in 82% of infants less than 4 months of age and 85% of those over 4 months of age. Botulism was correctly identified by Electromyography in nine of 11 cases. The Electromyography diagnosis was identical to that obtained by muscle biopsy in 64% of cases in which biopsy was done, and diagnosis obtained by the two methods were inconsistent in only 14%. Electromyography is a sensitive and noninvasive diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of neuromuscular disease in infantile hypotonia.

TREATMENT OF INFANTILE HYPOTONIA

Currently there is no known treatment or cure available for hypotonia. If the cause is highlighted then the treatment is tailored to the specific disease, followed by symptomatic and supportive therapy for the hypotonia. Physical therapy can improve fine motor control and overall body strength. Treatment may be primarily supportive, such as mechanical assistance with basic life functions like breathing and feeding, physical therapy to prevent muscle atrophy and maintain joint mobility, and measures to try and prevent opportunistic infections such as pneumonia.