A child with benign neonatal jitteriness and spasmus nutans

This patient, a 26-month-old girl, developed benign neonatal jitteriness soon after birth that subsequently resolved at 3 months of age. At 6 months of age, she developed spasmus nutans with left monocular nystagmus and head shaking in a "no-no" pattern. Physical examination was otherwise unremarkable. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, optic nerves, and orbits was normal. The spasmus nutans also gradually resolved by 18 months of age. To our knowledge, the co-occurrence of these 2 benign movement disorders in an individual has not previously been reported. The pathogenesis of benign neonatal jitteriness and spasmus nutans is unknown. Their co-occurrence may reflect a shared underlying mechanism.