1
Q
What is a ‘floppy’ infant?
A
Hypotonia, or floppiness, may be central in origin or related to nerve and muscle problems.
2
Q
What would hypotonia associated with encephalopathy in the newborn period indicate?
A
It is most likely caused by hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy.
3
Q
What are the central causes of a floppy infant?
A
Central causes
- Down’s syndrome
- Prader-Willi syndrome
- Hypothyroidism
- Cerebral palsy (hypotonia may precede the development of spasticity)
4
Q
What are the neurological and muscular causes of a floppy infant?
A
Neurological and muscular problems:
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Spina bifida
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Myasthenia gravis
- Muscular dystrophy
- Myotonic dystrophy
