What Do Involuntary Frowns In A Child Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 17 Dec 2016

Question: My grand daughter is 6 years old and in the past week I have noticed she frowns involuntarily

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (54 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Could be a habit - please answer the following questions

Detailed Answer:
Hi....by what you say, this looks like a habit which is forming.

I have a few questions for you. Please get back to me with answers, so that I can guide you further.

Questions -

1. Does she have sudden jerky movements of shoulder while she does this?

2. Has she been in contact with anybody who frowns like this often?

3. How frequently is she doing this per day?

4. Does she make loud noises while doing so?

5. Did she have any fever or sire throat in recent past?

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (9 hours later)

No sudden jurks at the sholder
She has not been around anyone that frowns
she does it once every5min.or so along with other involitary moevments such as her eyes looking upward motion ,and movement in her lips

No loud noise
she has had a sor throat

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Probable habit disorder or evolving tics

Detailed Answer:
Hi....

From the information provided, I feel that she could be having a habit disorder or evolving tics.

Sometimes post streptococcal pharyngitis, there can be a neuropsychiatric disorder called, PANDAS.

I suggest you get a consultation with her pediatrician regarding this.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee