Benign paroxysmal torticollis (BPT) is a rare medical disorder affecting infants.^[1]

The defining characteristic of BPT is a tilting of an infant's head in recurrent episodes, for varying periods of time.^[1][2] Furthermore, the child's trunk may bend in the same direction as the head, giving the baby an overall curved shape; this complaint is known as tortipelvis.^[1][2] In addition to this, the individual may also, but not necessarily, experience vomiting, pallor, ataxia, agitation, infantile migraine, unsteadiness of gait upon learning to walk, general malaise and nystagmus.^[1][2]

The periods in which the child's head is tilted and other symptoms appear can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few weeks, with a frequency of anywhere from two per year to two per month.^[1][2]

The cause of benign paroxysmal torticollis in infants is thought to be migrainous. More than 50% of infants have a family history of migraine in first degree relatives. The cause is likely to be genetic.^[1][2]

The mechanism of action of benign paroxysmal torticollis is not yet understood.^[1][2][3] It has been suggested that unilateral vestibular dysfunction^[3] or vascular disturbance in the brain stem^[1] may be responsible for the condition.

Diagnosis of BPT can be difficult because it is rare.^[3]

No known treatment for BPT currently exists.^[1] However, the condition it is self-limiting and resolves after about eighteen months.

Benign paroxysmal torticollis disappears in the early years of life with no medical intervention.^[1][2][3]

However, some cases of benign paroxysmal torticollis cases can evolve into benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood, migrainous vertigo or typical migraines.^[1][2]

The condition was first described by CH Snyder in 1969 in an article titled “Paroxysmal torticollis in infancy. A possible form of labyrinthitis.” in the American Journal of Diseases of Children.^[1][2][3]

• Orphanet: Benign paroxysmal torticollis of infancy
• N. Paul Rosman, Laurie M. Douglass, Uzma M. Sharif and Jan Paolini. J Child Neurol 2009 24: 155-160
• Sheikh Nigel Basheer (2010). "Paroxysmal torticollis". Journal of Pediatric Neurology 8 (2010) 69–71^{[permanent dead link‍]}