Differential Diagnosis for a 6-month-old favoring left side
- The following differential diagnosis is organized into categories to guide the thought process:
Single most likely diagnosis
- Holographic brain development or normal variation: At 6 months old, infants often exhibit handedness or sidedness due to normal brain development. This could be a normal variation and not necessarily indicative of an underlying condition.
Other Likely diagnoses
- Tone or muscle imbalance: Infants may favor one side due to differences in muscle tone or strength, which can be a result of various factors, including birth trauma or developmental delays.
- Orthopedic issues: Conditions such as hip dysplasia or clubfoot can cause an infant to favor one side due to discomfort or limited mobility.
- Vision or hearing impairment: Impinging vision or hearing loss on one side can lead an infant to favor the other side, as they may rely more heavily on the unaffected senses.
Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed)
- Cervicilo or brain tumor: Although rare, tumors in the brain or neck can cause an infant to favor one side due to pain, discomfort, or neurological deficits.
- Intracranial hemorrhage or stroke: These conditions can result in weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, leading an infant to favor the other side.
- Infections such as meningitis or sepsis: Severe infections can cause an infant to exhibit abnormal posturing or favor one side due to discomfort or neurological involvement.
Rare diagnoses
- Idiopathic infantile cerecolo or brainstem disorders: Rare conditions such as infantile cerecolo or brainstem disorders can cause an infant to favor one side due to abnormal brain development or function.
- Congenital or acquired spinal cord injuries: Although rare, injuries to the spinal cord can result in favoring one side due to weakness, paralysis, or sensory deficits.