Patient's question:
When the newborn was born, it was noticed that when crying or smiling, one side of the mouth would droop while the other side couldn't be lifted. Chromosome karyotype analysis was performed, which showed normal results! Brain MRI also showed normal results! Now, at two months old, it hasn't improved yet. Only the mouth is affected—the two eyes close without any problem. The traditional Chinese medicine hospital suggested acupuncture treatment, twice a day, and taking Methylcobalamin tablets, 0.5 mg each, divided into three doses a day, to see how things develop. The People's Hospital rehabilitation department recommended starting with massage and heat therapy to see the effect. Now, the child is two months old, and all other aspects are normal. However, when the child applies less force to the mouth, it is normal, but when trying to open the mouth wider, the other side doesn't have enough strength! What could be the reason for this? What treatments can be used?Doctor's answer:
The nasolabial fold is slightly shallower on the right side. The cranial MRI suggests the possibility of bilirubin encephalopathy, so it's important to monitor the jaundice index. Also, check for any other developmental abnormalities. If everything else is normal and the baby is still feeding well, there's no need to address the shallow nasolabial fold at this time. Since the medication is too small, it's not recommended. If the thorough examination shows no abnormalities, it's still advisable to consider nerve damage and start using neurotrophic medication.