Question
A three-month-old baby, five days shy of being three months old, has recently been discovered to have a slight tremor in the right foot, lasting only one to two seconds each time. Initially, it was suspected to be due to a calcium deficiency, but after a trace element test, it was found that only zinc and iron were deficient, with all other elements being normal. How should this be handled?
Answer
Foot tremors in infants do not necessarily indicate a health problem; they can sometimes be a manifestation of a startle reflex, which is different from seizures. However, a deficiency in vitamin D may lead to tetany of the hands and feet. It is recommended to take the baby to the hospital for a trace element check, particularly the calcium level. A deficiency in calcium can also increase the frequency of tremors, so appropriate calcium supplementation can be considered. If the frequency of tremors is too high, further examination of the baby’s neurological development should be conducted.