Hypertonic baby usually has a large mass in their chest cavity. Because of this, the infant often cannot breathe properly and is very irritable most of the time. Also, they are more sensitive to touch and become easily agitated or cry. A large mass in the chest makes it difficult for them to take deep breaths and also increases the risk of developing asthma.
Hypertonic infant normally has high levels of calcium in their blood, with low levels of potassium (the main component of the blood). This causes the hypertonic symptoms by irritating the sensitive nerves and muscles in the infant’s torso. It is accompanied by involuntary eye blinking, rapid pulse, increased heart rate, and irregular breathing. Once the diagnosis is established after 3 months, the usual treatment of hypertonicity in infants is carried out in various directions: pacifying massage; magnetic therapy, iontophoresis; electroencephalographs; massage, hydrotherapy, orthopaedics, and other reflexology techniques; calmer applications like ointments and creams. As the child matures, additional adjustments to their diet are made to ensure that they are getting enough nutrients.
During labour and early after birth, the infant cannot support its head and has to rely on the assistance of its mother. This leads to dehydration and overheating of the body. Rapid weight gain in the newborn results in the child’s development being bracketed between infancy and toddlerhood, with shorter limbs and larger abdomen. As this progresses, the baby tends to have less control over its head and torso. As a result of the baby not being able to gain adequate amounts of oxygen and constrict its lungs during labour and birth, it becomes more susceptible to hypertonia.
In order to monitor the development of babies, a pediatrician monitors the growth of the infants’ muscles. The muscle conduction tests measure whether there is an abnormal sensitivity to touch, or if the baby can withstand pain. The frequency of limb movement is also measured to determine if the child is dependent on the muscles of the legs for muscular support. If there is an abnormal response to the leg muscles of an infant, then a muscle hypertonicity test is performed.
There are various causes of hypertonicity in infants. One of these causes is congenital hypertonicity. When a gene defect is present at birth, it can cause skeletal abnormalities, including decreased muscle tone and increased trunk lean. This can potentially lead to serious health risks, such as cerebral palsy and cardiopulmonary hypertension, two of the most common outcomes of congenital hypertonia.
A diagnosis of hypertonic infant should be made by a physician following a thorough assessment of the baby’s medical history, taking into consideration the mother’s medical history. It is important that the baby is discharged from the hospital after arriving home to avoid any complications that can arise from drastic medication changes during the period of hospitalization. One of the first things the neurologist will do is perform a neurological test called the Neuro-linguistic Profile, or NLP. NLP is designed to identify patterns of behavior and abnormal reflex patterns that are indicative of specific neurological disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea and sensory processing disorders.
Hypertonic infants may have other health problems as well. One of the most common conditions is fussy baby, which is characterized by crying for prolonged periods of time. This can occur even in the absence of physical stress or trauma. The crying can also be accompanied by profuse sweating and tongue twitches. Some babies with fussy temperaments also have reflexive tone disorders, a condition where they reflexively touch their arms or legs when they become excited or frightened.
Reflexive tone disorder often accompanies hyperactive reflexes, which can make a child difficult to handle. The high and low-pitched tones commonly associated with fussy infants can also be associated with tone disorders. A physician will usually take a history of the baby’s temperament, including its temperament in relation to its peers, before diagnosing the specific cause of the tone disorders.