Abstract
Background
Infantile masturbation is considered a variant of normal behaviour. The abrupt and
spontaneous onset, altered sensorium and autonomic phenomena during episodes may suggest
an epileptic fit. Therefore, children with infantile masturbation are often admitted
to hospital and undergo unnecessary tests. The purpose of the present study was to
provide a detailed description of hand activities in infantile masturbation.
Methods
The authors reviewed video recordings of 2 boys and 11 girls with infantile masturbation.
Position, movements and activities of hands and fingers during episodes were registered.
Results
Five patterns of hand activities were registered: Fisting (four infants), grasping
of toys, furniture or clothing (ten infants), chorea-like “piano playing” hand movements
(two infants), pressure over the diaper/genital region (one infant) and bimanual manipulation
of items (four infants). Fisting was primarily observed in the younger infants, and
bimanual manipulation was primarily seen in the older infants.
Conclusions
Recognizing one or more of the five distinct patterns of hand activities in infantile
masturbation may help establishing the diagnosis.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
October 5,
2008
Received:
July 1,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
