Hypotonia in infants and children.

Many diseases in the pediatric population present with hypotonia and/or weakness. In order to ensure proper diagnosis and facilitate appropriate treatment, the nurse must be familial with those diseases which produce motor unit dysfunction in infants and children; among these conditions are infantile botulism and Guillain-Barré Syndrome. An understanding of the particular features which distinguish central from peripheral hypotonia is essential for the nurse. It is also important to obtain detailed histories and to ensure thorough physical examination. The nurse should also be aware of those laboratory studies that evaluate hypotonia and weakness, including the EMG, PNCT, muscle biopsy, and lumbar puncture.