16 month old with a tremor?

Question

My son (16 months) has had a cold the last few days and this morning he wouldn't walk and wanted to just sit or lie down. We weren't too concerned until later this morning when we noticed his right arm had a slight tremor (not a violent spasm) but just a constant shaking. We took him to the ER but he seemed fine once we got him there...walking fine, tremor was gone, no temperature, no ear infection, lungs were ok etc...just a runny nose. Our pediatrician said just to monitor him and come in to the office if it happens again. Has anyone had a toddler with similar symptoms?

Answer 1

Tremors can occur when you are at rest and aren't moving much. His tremor was probably caused because he was sitting and laying down all morning. I'm sure he's fine, no need to worry :-)

Answer 2

Too often doctors get jaded and/or too comfortable with the everyday, mundane practice and tend to too casually write off anything different. It could be nothing, but do you want to gamble with your child's life?

It could be post-viral fatigue syndrome, which is a weakness after a cold or flu that presents as tremors. If it is this, it will subside as the child regains his strength. But, it could be other things too for which the cold was only a symptom.

Usually muscle weakness is due to a problem in either the muscle itself or the nerves supplying the muscles.
A number of basic blood tests should be performed for example :
CK testing , this is a structural protein released from damaged muscle;
ESR or SedRate, this is a marker for inflammatory conditions which cause weakness, also testing for Myasthenia gravis and possibly thyroid and Autoimmune diseases.
If this is not helpful the further options include EMG which looks at electrical activity in muscles and nerves and possibly muscle biopsy.

Luckily, most of the disorders are treatable if they are found to apply. Watch him for a few days. If it does not go away, for your child's safety and your peace of mind, see a neurologist and have him checked. What do you have to lose but for a few dollars?

Answer 3

Did they say to make sure and watch over his temperature closely? I know you said he didn't have one once you got there, but had he felt warm at all? My 15 month old daughter went to bed totally fine, and in the middle of the night spiked a fever and it threw her into a febrile seizure, hers was pretty severe and her whole body was affected, but it is more common that it just a slight tremor. Apparently it is totally normal in children ages 6 months to 5 years old, and doesn't lead to epilepsy or anything, but is the body's only way of handling such a sudden change in temperature at such a young age.

Not sure if this will help at all, but I suggest really keeping an eye on his temp. Best of luck to you and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

Answer 4

i think ur baby needed fresh air?