Why do children have torticollis and tilt their heads?

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On average, 1 out of every 250 children has torticollis. Children can have torticollis at birth or due to the influence of disease. Although torticollis does not cause pain in children, it greatly affects the aesthetics and normal development of children in the future.

1. Scoliosis in children

Torticollis in children is also known as "twist neck". Children with torticollis will have their head tilted to one side and their chin tilted to the other. Neonatal torticollis is more likely to occur when the baby has to go through a difficult labor or the position of the baby in the womb is not correct.

2. Causes of torticollis in children

Causes of torticollis in young children are divided into two types: congenital torticollis or pathological torticollis.
2.1. Congenital torticollis Congenital torticollis is a condition in which a baby is born with a crooked and developed curvature during the first 3 months of life. There are many causes of congenital torticollis such as:
Buttock pregnancy: The baby's butt is born first. As a result, the neck can become stretched and trapped in the birth canal. Difficult delivery causes SCM muscle to tear, bleed and bruise inside Fetal development problems: Fetal development in the womb can cause the SCM muscle to shorten leading to a baby's neck torticollis . For example, abnormal problems in the formation of cervical vertebrae, also known as congenital adhesions of cervical vertebrae, or due to physical impacts on the uterus, have affected the fetus, causing fetal injury, The fetal neck muscles are weak, so during childbirth, the baby's neck is tilted to one side. Injuries during birth: During the birth process, if the baby is stuck in the birth canal, the doctor will have to intervene to help the baby not suffocate as well as reduce pain for the mother. Doctors will use forceps or suction cups to help bring the baby out. Forceful intervention can cause the child's SCM muscle to be injured, causing neck torticollis.
2.2. Medical torticollis Children with torticollis can be caused by certain medical conditions such as:
Eye deviation: Children born with SCM muscles are still healthy and have misaligned eyes, making it difficult for children to perceive distances. and depth. Trying to see clearly will cause the baby to tilt his head, over time causing the SCM muscle to stretch, leading to a crooked neck. Sandifer syndrome: Children with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease can develop Sandifer syndrome. This is because reflux causes the baby's muscles to contract abnormally. 2.3. Outbursts of the neck: Babies often sleep with their heads on their sides for a long time, they may tilt their heads to one side continuously from a few hours to a few days. If this happens when the child is sleepy, disorientation will lead to torticollis. This cause is mainly seen in children under 1 year old and disappears by the time the child is 5 years old.

2.4. Grisel syndrome Children with infections of the nose and throat can lead to inflammation of the neck muscles, causing dislocation of the occipital joint. The cause of this condition can be due to tonsil infections, otitis media, nasopharyngeal warts. A dislocated joint is the cause of the baby's neck and head tilt. Grisel syndrome is often seen in adolescents.
2.5. Nodding spasticity Nodding spasticity is a condition in which all 3 problems of heart rhythm disturbance, nystagmus and nodding of the head occur at the same time. Many studies suggest that the cause of nodular spasticity is iron deficiency, vitamin D and brain disorders.
2.6. Infections and injuries In addition to the above causes, children with torticollis can also be caused by direct trauma.

3. Symptoms of torticollis in children

Symptoms of torticollis in children are easy to recognize. Children with this disease will tilt their head to one side, with very limited neck movement. In addition, the telltale sign of the disease is a small lump or bump in the neck.
Children with congenital torticollis are usually diagnosed before the baby is 2 months old. Congenital torticollis can lead to postural distortion of the head, which is caused by frequent lying on one side of the child.
Specific symptoms of torticollis include:
The child often tilts his head to one side The child only feeds on one side Limited head movement Has a small tumor in the neck

4. Diagnosis of head tilt torticollis in children

When seeing a child with the above abnormal signs, the child should be taken to the hospital for examination as soon as possible. Methods of diagnosing torticollis in children include:
Direct examination: Diagnosis is based on the child's symptoms. The doctor will check the child's neck movement to see if the baby moves the head, the SCM muscle is tense. X-ray: X-rays will help to clearly see the baby's bone structure. Not only helps to detect torticollis but also see other bone disorders Ultrasound: Will ultrasound help determine exactly if the SCM muscle is abnormal or not? Neck curvature in children will not cause pain, but it affects the aesthetics and changes the face of the child. In addition, children will also have difficulty turning their heads. Observe the signs and take your baby to the doctor if you suspect that your baby's neck is crooked for prompt treatment.
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