Hypotonia

Alternative names:

floppy; decreased muscle tone, hypotonic infant

Home care:

Extra care must be taken when lifting and carrying a hypotonic infant, to avoid causing an injury to the child.

Call your health care provider if:

• your child appears "floppy", especially if he or she previously seemed to have normal muscle control.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The family history and the child's medical history will be obtained. A physical examination will be performed. Most of the disorders associated with hypotonia also cause other symptoms that, when taken together, will suggest a particular disorder.

Medical history questions documenting hypotonia in detail may include:

• time pattern
  • When did you first notice that your baby seemed floppy?
  • Was it apparant at birth?
  • Did it develop suddenly or gradually?
  • Have you ever noticed a pattern to the behavior (is it always the same or is it worse at certain times)?
• quality
  • How exactly does the child act?
  • Is the child generally limp, or only floppy in certain areas?
• other
  • What other symptoms are present?

The physical examination will probably include a detailed nervous system and muscle function examination.

Diagnostic tests will vary depending on the suspected cause of the hypotonia.

After seeing your health care provider:
If a diagnosis was made by your health care provider as the cause of hypotonia, you may want to note that diagnosis in your personal medical record.

Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial