Question
The child experienced brief lip twitching after a nap, with two episodes, and inquired about the cause.
Answer
Lip twitching after a nap in children may be caused by hypomagnesemia. Normal full-term newborns have about 1 gram of magnesium in their bodies, with 5% in the bones, 45% in muscles and soft tissues. The normal magnesium level for healthy infants is 2 to 3 milligrams per liter. When blood magnesium drops below 1.5 milligrams per liter, infants may exhibit symptoms of hypomagnesemia, including eye twitching and facial muscle spasms. Hypomagnesemia often occurs in malnourished children. If twitching, hand and foot spasms, or seizures occur and calcium supplements are ineffective, hypomagnesemia should be considered. To prevent the occurrence of hypomagnesemia in infants, breastfeeding should be advocated, and magnesium-rich foods should be provided as early as possible.