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Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Quantification of Orofacial Phenotypes in Xenopus
Published on: November 6, 2014
[An infant with an asymmetric mouth when crying or laughing]
Hanaâ Benjeddi1, Olivier Weijer, Jan Maarten Cobben
1Flevoziekenhuis, afd. Kindergeneeskunde, Almere.
Insights
Asymmetrical crying in infants can indicate nerve issues or muscle defects. Further investigations are crucial to rule out genetic syndromes and associated organ anomalies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Genetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Asymmetrical crying in infants may signal nerve compression or facial muscle developmental defects.
- A 22q11 deletion syndrome is a potential cause, often involving multiple organ systems.
Observation:
- A 2-month-old infant presented with an asymmetrical mouth when crying or laughing, with no other symptoms.
- Genetic testing and ultrasounds were performed to rule out 22q11 deletion syndrome.
Findings:
- Genetic and ultrasound investigations revealed no significant findings for 22q11 deletion syndrome.
- The infant's condition was diagnosed as isolated asymmetric crying facies due to hypoplasia of the depressor anguli oris muscle.
Implications:
- An asymmetrical mouth in infants necessitates further investigation to exclude underlying genetic syndromes.
- Early identification and evaluation are essential for managing potential multi-organ anomalies associated with asymmetric crying facies.
Background:
If a child cries with an asymmetrical mouth it can be a sign of a nerve compression or a developmental defect in a facial muscle. In the latter case, a 22q11 deletion can be the cause, and multiple organs might be involved.
Case Description:
A 2-month-old infant was referred to the paediatric outpatient clinic because he had an asymmetrical mouth when crying or laughing. There were no further symptoms. Genetic investigations and ultrasounds of the heart and kidneys were performed to exclude an underlying syndrome caused by a 22q11 deletion. These revealed no significant findings. It appeared to be a case of isolated 'asymmetric crying facies' as a result of hypoplasia of the depressor anguli oris muscle.
Conclusion:
An asymmetrical mouth in an infant can be a part of a genetic syndrome, in which there can be anomalies in multiple organ systems. For this reason, additional investigations are essential in cases of 'asymmetric crying facies'.
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