A 1 yr old child is with normal intelligence with features of hypotonia. On examination there are tongue fasciculations and he keeps his body in a frog like position and also loss of reflexes. Give the most probable diagnosis?
**Core Concept**
This question tests recognition of **spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)**, a genetic motor neuron disease caused by mutations in the **SMN1 gene**. Key features include hypotonia, areflexia, and muscle atrophy, with preserved mental status.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The clinical presentation of **hypotonia**, **tongue fasciculations**, **frog-like posture** (flexed legs, abducted thighs), and **loss of reflexes** is classic for **SMA type 1 (Werdnig-Hoffmann disease)**. SMA type 1 manifests in infancy (<6 months) with progressive motor weakness, atrophy, and loss of motor neurons in the anterior horn cells. Tongue fasciculations result from denervation of intrinsic tongue muscles. The frog-like posture reflects axial hypotonia and weakness of lower limb extensors.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** *Duchenne muscular dystrophy* presents with delayed motor milestones, pseudohypertrophy, and elevated CPK; hypotonia is less prominent.
**Option B:** *Congenital myotonic dystrophy* includes myotonia, cataracts, and facial weakness, not typical SMA features.
**Option C:** *Mitochondrial myopathy* may cause hypotonia but is associated with systemic symptoms (e.g., lactic acidosis, stroke-like episodes).
**Clinical Pearl**
SMA type 1 is a **pediatric emergency**—diagnose via **SMN1 gene deletion**. Early treatment with **nusinersen** or **onasemnogene abeparvovec** improves outcomes. Distinguish from muscular dystrophy by absence of elevated CPK and pseudohypertrophy.
**Correct Answer: D. Spinal muscular atrophy (Werdnig-Hoffmann disease)**