Baby with low muscle tone

Aetiology

Central

• Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy
• Intracranial haemorrhage
• Cerebral malformations
• Chromosomal abnormalities (e.g. trisomy 21, Prader-Willi syndrome)
• Congenital infections (TORCH)
• Acquired infections
• Peroxisomal disorders
• Drug effects (e.g. benzodiazepines)

Spinal cord

• Birth trauma (especially breech delivery)
• Syringomyelia

Anterior horn cell

• Spinal muscular atrophy
• Pompe's disease (acid maltase deficiency)

Neuromuscular junction

• Myasthenia gravis (transient/congenital)
• Infantile botulism