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Jitteriness beyond the neonatal period: a benign pattern of movement in infancy
A Shuper1, J Zalzberg, R Weitz
1Department of Pediatrics B, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Insights
Infant jitteriness after the neonatal period is usually benign. This study found most jittery infants showed normal development by age 3, suggesting a maturational process.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Jitteriness is common in neonates but less documented in early infancy.
- Understanding post-neonatal jitteriness is crucial for accurate diagnosis and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical presentation and neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants exhibiting jitteriness beyond the neonatal period.
- To determine if persistent jitteriness is associated with long-term neurological sequelae.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal follow-up of 38 full-term infants with jitteriness presenting after 6 weeks of age.
- Initial assessment included Apgar scores, muscle tone, and reflexes.
- Reevaluation at 3 years of age to assess neurodevelopmental status.
Main Results:
- Jitteriness resolved in most infants by a mean age of 7.2 months.
- 89% of infants had high Apgar scores (9-10).
- At 3 years, 92% of infants had normal neurodevelopmental outcomes; the remainder showed minor, transient disturbances.
Conclusions:
- Jitteriness presenting solely in infants beyond the neonatal period appears to be a benign condition.
- The phenomenon is associated with an excellent neurodevelopmental prognosis.
- Etiology is likely related to central nervous system maturation.
Abstract:
Jitteriness is a frequent, well-recognized phenomenon in neonates. Its occurrence in early infancy, beyond the neonatal period, is much less documented. Thirty-eight full-term infants who were jittery after 6 weeks of age were followed until the jitteriness disappeared and then reevaluated at the age of 3 years. The jittery movements had already been observed during the neonatal period in 16 babies but not before 6 weeks of age in 22. In 34 infants (89%), 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores were 9 or 10. At the initial examination, a mildly increased muscle tone was found in 12 infants, and hyperactive deep-tendon reflexes were found in 19. The jitteriness resolved at a mean age of 7.2 +/- 3.4 months. At 3 years, 92% of the infants had a normal neurodevelopmental examination, while in the rest only minor, transient disturbances were found. This study indicates that jitteriness as a sole presentation in infants beyond the neonatal period is a benign phenomenon, associated with an excellent prognosis. Its etiology is unknown but seems most likely to be related to a maturational process within the central nervous system.