There is no greater joy than welcoming your baby into this world. The parenting journey begins with loads of responsibilities, including feeding the baby, changing diapers, and ensuring health and safety.

You get the rewards when you see your baby crawling and growing up healthily. However, if your child has not yet started walking even after crossing the 1 year mark, you might want to get a doctor’s consultation to ensure their health.

Some infants cannot walk, sit straight, or even hold their heads in place, as a result of muscle weakening. But what could be the causes behind such a condition in children?

Don’t worry! We understand your worries as a parent. Hence, we use this article to provide you with the required information about muscle weakening and the possible causes. Read on!

What can be the possible reasons for muscle weakness in children?

Many different factors can cause weakness in muscles in children. It may be genetic or medical health conditions. Some are detectable at birth, while others need testing at later stages (2nd or 3rd year of the delivery) to confirm the disease. It could be the following reasons:

1. Muscular Dystrophy

It is a condition that weakens muscles over time. It is of two types; Becker and duchenne muscular dystrophy. This condition is a rare genetic disease. Surprisingly only 1 in 3600 live male infant babies get this disease. At the same time, Duchene progresses fast and begins at an early age. The other type starts during the teen years and moves slowly.

The symptoms may include having trouble climbing stairs, tripping & falling a lot, constant leg pain, enlarged calves, and more. It is a progressive condition; thus, it worsens with time. Kids with this condition are likely to develop scoliosis, breathing problems, and more.

2.  Electrolyte Imbalance

Human bodies have multiple organs that perform specific functions to strengthen the body. So, at times, a child’s lungs and kidneys or any one of them may fail to work correctly; thus, it creates an acid-base imbalance in the body.

This imbalance is called electrolyte disorder, wherein the child’s blood may have either high content of acid or basic components depending on the imbalance. If the lungs cause it, they are referred to as respiratory acidosis or alkalosis. On the other hand, imbalance due to kidney function failure is called metabolic acidosis and alkalosis.

3. Pediatric Hypothyroidism

As the name suggests, it is a pediatric condition wherein the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of thyroid hormones. The glands stay underactive, thus affecting the children’s metabolism, muscle strength, and more. The risk factors include a family history of hypothyroidism, radiation exposure to the chest and neck, surgical treatment to remove thyroid glands, and more.

The symptoms of pediatric hypothyroidism are different from adults. Moreover, the signs may vary from child to child; some may not exhibit any symptoms. General indications are choking episodes, yellow skin, low hairline, lack of muscle tone, and more.

Bottom line

Multiple reasons may cause muscle weakening in children. Healthcare experts suggest that you must never miss any scheduled health checkups in the initial stages after childbirth. The doctors can detect medical and genetic conditions during these regular visits, and it may get easier for you to deal with the situation and prepare for the future.