Question
A nine-month-old boy occasionally shows symptoms of a crooked mouth and a stiff body while standing, lasting about 2 to 3 seconds before returning to normal. Recently, he has also been experiencing similar symptoms when sitting down, which are less severe and occur multiple times a day. Additionally, the child has poor sleep at night, often crying and fussing twice or thrice in the first half of the night, but sleeps better in the latter half. Could these be symptoms of pediatric tic disorders?
Answer
Tic disorders typically require two conditions: first, cesarean section or preterm birth, and second, possible postnatal imbalance, such as excessive consumption of cold food damaging the spleen and stomach, or overeating leading to chronic indigestion. However, your baby is only nine months old and may not have tic disorders but rather incomplete neurodevelopment. There is no need to worry; as the baby grows, the nervous system will further mature. If you are still concerned, you can go to the hospital for a check-up.