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Hypotonic infant (Paediatric Neurology)
Copied from the official Gold Coast Health condition page (27 Aug 2026). Hospital triage assigns the official category. Live source: Refer Your Patient — Hypotonic infant (Paediatric Neurology).
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Cat 1 · 30 days
appointment within 30 calendar days. - If signs and symptoms suggestive of spinal muscular atrophy, then direct referral to Neurology (and local General Paediatrician, if not already involved at time of consultation) for immediate diagnosis and initiation of treatment
- Profound head lag
- Proximal weakness, most marked in lower limbs, especially if less than antigravity
- Absent deep tendon reflexes
- Diaphragmatic breathing
- Tongue fasciculations (not always visible)
- Age <3 months
- Weakness less than antigravity movement
- Plateau or regression of motor skills
- Absent deep tendon reflexes
- History of ventilatory support in neonatal period or with illness
Cat 2 · 90 days
appointment within 90 calendar days. - Antigravity power in upper and lower limbs
- Ongoing gains in motor milestones
- Reduced or normal deep tendon reflexes
- Non progressive bulbar dysfunction without weight loss e.g. swallowing problems, poor feeding, sialorrhoea,
- Chronic non progressive ptosis or ophthalmoplegia
Cat 3 · 365 days
appointment within 365 calendar days. - No category 3 criteria
Essential referral information
Referral will be returned without this. If a mandatory test cannot be obtained, say so in the referral.
- History related to hypotonia
- Neurological examination findings, including tone, contractures, power, deep tendon reflexes, cranial nerve involvement, muscle wasting
Out of scope / wrong door
Adult
- Mild or tension headache
- Untreated headache/migraine
- Dementia without prior assessment by physician or geriatrician
- Syncope (consider cardiology)
- Fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome
- Lyme disease
- Head injury include post-concussion injury
- Radiculopathy or chronic back pain, see specific Spine CPC
- Chronic unexplained pain/ pain syndrome
- Falls (refer to General Medicine CPC or Geriatrics first) [https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cpc/general-medicine/falls]
- Dizziness (To General Medicine first) [https://www.health.qld.gov.au/cpc/general-medicine/states-of-altered-neurological-function]
- Stroke rehabilitation (To Rehabilitation)
- Functional disorders that do not resemble Neurological conditions” e.g. functional blindness
- Concussion
- Simple febrile seizures in a developmentally normal child with no risk factors for epilepsy (e.g. no known brain abnormality)
- New onset epileptic seizures in a developmentally normal child > 2 years of age (unless specific criteria for
- Neurology referral – see Epilepsy/Seizures CPC’s)
- Syncope with stiffening/twitching during the syncopal event (convulsive syncope)
- Head injury including concussion (consider neurosurgery and rehabilitation services)
- Tics and Tourette syndrome
- ADHD
- Autism spectrum disorders, unless concern for epileptic encephalopathy or regression
- Mild global developmental delay
- Headache (unless specific criteria for Neurology referral – see Headache/Migraine CPC’s)
- Toe walking without fixed foot deformity,
- Cerebral palsy (Paediatrician and Rehabilitation services can refer to Neurology for support with aetiological diagnosis if required)
- Stereotypic movements (primary or complex motor stereotypies) – differentiating from epilepsy in a young child can be supported by Neurologist review of videos
- Dizziness and vertigo (unless paroxysmal in nature and concern for an epileptic basis)
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (unless specific criteria for Neurology referral – see Headache/Migraine CPC’s)
- Functional neurological symptom disorder (unless specific criteria for Neurology referral – see Functional Neurological Symptoms CPC’s)
- Bell’s palsy
- Erb’s/Klumpke’s palsy
- Horner’s syndrome
- Arterio-venous malformation, Vein of Galen malformations, Arterio-Venous fistulas and aneurysms (consider neurosurgery)
- Haematological disorders with no previous stroke but concern regarding increased risk of stroke (consider Haematology referral)
- Incidental findings on MRI brain scans considered of no clinical significance for the patient now or into the future, specifically static T2/FLAIR hyperintensities in white matter (‘unidentified bright objects’) and pineal cysts. Approximately 18% of MRIs in healthy volunteers show incidental findings, of these 15/18% required no referral. Of incidental findings that require referral, the majority are neurosurgical conditions (tumor, arachnoid cyst, vascular abnormalities such as cavernous angioma). Progressive demyelinating disorders (multiple sclerosis) are rare in childhood, if this condition is considered, call the on-call Neurology service (after transfer of images to Queensland Health PACS system so they are available for case discussion)
Paediatric
Parent service: Neurology
Send outpatient referrals to
- Smart Referrals preferred (Best Practice or Medical Director)
- Medical Objects GQ42150009Z (lookup qh → QHEALTH, GOLD COAST HEALTH OUTPATIENT)
- HealthLink EDI Qldgchsd
- Fax (07) 5687 4497 — Booking and Referral Centre
- Post: Booking and Referral Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, 1 Hospital Boulevard, Southport QLD 4215
- Clinic enquiries 1300 559 083
How to refer — full order
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