Patient's question:
My child is 10 months old. Recently, they have been experiencing upward twitching of the left corner of their mouth, and their eyelid also twitches upwards. I would like to ask what illness this could be. Additionally, my child has mild cerebral palsy and epilepsy, but they have been taking phenobarbital and have not had any recurrence.Doctor's answer:
1. Fatigue: When the body is fatigued, the normal physiological function of muscles changes. At this time, muscles accumulate a large amount of lactic acid, and lactic acid continuously stimulates muscle cramps.2. Electrolyte imbalance: During exercise, a lot of sweat is produced, especially in hot weather, leading to significant electrolyte loss. The main component of sweat is water and salt, and salt is related to muscle contraction. Excessive loss of salt can cause muscle excitation and cramps.
3. Cold stimulation: In cold climates, such as when swimming in cold water, muscles are prone to cramps, especially if warm-up exercises are not properly prepared. The main reason is that muscles become more excitable due to the cold. Additionally, high fever, epilepsy, tetanus, rabies, and calcium deficiency can all cause cramps. These are systemic conditions, while localized cramps, such as gastrocnemius muscle (commonly known as calf muscle) spasms, are often caused by sudden exercise, work fatigue, or severe twists in the tibia. These often occur when lying down or sleeping.