JITTERY BABIES - A SHORT-TERM FOLLOW-UP

Thirty-nine full-term babies, appropriate for gestational age, and oth erwise healthy, were followed-up in our neurology clinic because of ji tteriness, until complete resolution of symptoms and neurological find ings. The babies were examined at 3 month intervals, and were classifi ed according to the severity of their associated neurological findings , hypertonicity and increased tendon reflexes, into two groups: 'mild' (n = 24), and 'moderate-to-severe' (n = 15). The mean follow-up perio d was 13.5 months. In 81% of the study population, jitteriness and neu rological findings disappeared before the age of 9 months. In only 11% did they persist beyond the age of 1 year. The mean time until disapp earance of associated neurological findings was significantly shorter (5.5 months) in the mild group, compared to the moderate-to-severe gro up (9.5 months). Only one infant displayed motor delay and required ph ysiotherapy.