Some children may have a crooked neck, such as tilting their head to the left and chin to the right. Some may not have a serious condition at the beginning, and the amplitude of the crooked neck is not very large, so parents do not pay attention and think it will get better on their own. But gradually, it was found that the child's crooked neck not only did not improve, but also became more and more serious. So, what are the symptoms of a child's crooked neck?
What are the symptoms of a child's crooked neck?
A child with a crooked neck may have a slanted neck, and parents should take their child to the hospital for diagnosis. The main symptoms and signs of torticollis are as follows:
1. Oblique neck deformity: After the birth of a baby, the mother may notice that the child's head tilts towards the affected side, the face rotates towards the healthy side, and the lower jaw points towards the healthy side shoulder. 2-3 weeks later, the torticollis deformity becomes more pronounced, and turning the head towards the healthy side is significantly restricted. Mild symptoms should be carefully observed to detect them. This symptom worsens with the child's growth and development.
2. Neck lump: Generally, a neck lump can be felt within 2 weeks after birth, located in the middle and lower segments of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and is more common on the right side. This lump is spindle shaped, without tenderness, and usually reaches its maximum after 1-2 months, gradually shrinking to complete disappearance. Some children with this condition may experience a lump that does not disappear and develop muscle fibrosis and contraction, causing torticollis deformity.
3. Facial deformities: Congenital muscular torticollis is not effectively treated in the early stage, and facial deformities can occur after the age of 2. The main manifestations are facial asymmetry, asymmetric distance from the outer corners of the eyes to the corners of the mouth, shortened distance on the affected side, increased distance on the healthy side, and lowered eye position plane on the affected side. Due to the fact that the eyes are not on the same horizontal line, visual fatigue and vision loss are prone to occur. The healthy side of the face is round and full, while the affected side is narrow and flat. Compensatory scoliosis deformities may occur in the cervical spine. In addition, the entire face of the child, including the nose, ears, etc., may also show asymmetric changes.
What are the complications of a child's torticollis?
Congenital muscular torticollis is not effectively treated in the early stage, and facial deformities may occur after the age of 2, mainly manifested as facial asymmetry, asymmetric distance from the outer corners of the eyes to the corners of the mouth, shortened distance on the affected side, increased growth on the healthy side, and lowered eye position plane on the affected side. Due to the fact that the eyes are not on the same horizontal line, visual fatigue and vision loss are prone to occur. The healthy side of the face is round and full, while the affected side is narrow and flat. Compensatory scoliosis deformities may occur in the cervical spine. In addition, the entire face of the child, including the nose, ears, etc., may also show asymmetric changes.
If parents notice that their child has a crooked neck, regardless of the magnitude of the deviation, they should take it seriously. In the early stages of the child's crooked neck, they should take the child to the hospital for examination. After diagnosis, early treatment is necessary, otherwise it may affect the child's life. The earlier the treatment, the better. If the condition is not severe, conservative treatment can be carried out without surgery.
