Question
A premature baby, weighing only 3.6 pounds at birth due to pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, is now 3 years old but has not yet learned to walk. Although the brain and cerebellum are developing normally, the child has developed eye strabismus and tends to drool when laughing. The baby had hypertrophic chorea at birth. What could be the possible causes of these symptoms?
Answer
Based on the described symptoms, it may be a typical presentation of facial palsy. The characteristics of facial palsy include the disappearance of forehead furrows, widened palpebral fissures, flattened nasolabial grooves, and drooping corners of the mouth, especially when smiling or showing teeth. Patients are unable to perform actions such as frowning, furrowing the brows, closing eyes, puffing out cheeks, or pouting, and may leak air while blowing bubbles. When eating, food residue is prone to get stuck between the teeth and cheeks, and there is often drooling from the affected side. It is recommended to take the child to a neurology department in the hospital for a detailed examination and treatment as soon as possible.