INFANTILE SPASMS

Overview and Facts

Infantile Spasms, or West syndrome, is a kind of epilepsy that mostly affects children. The condition was referred to as West syndrome after the doctor who first identified it. Aside from West syndrome, doctors refer to it by a variety of names, including:

  • Lightning spasms
  • Epileptic spasms
  • X-linked infantile spasm syndrome
  • X-linked infantile spasms
  • Salaam or jerk knife spasms
  • Infantile myoclonic encephalopathy
  • Tonic spasms with clustering
  • Hypsarrhythmia
  • Infantile epileptic encephalopathy
  • Generalized flexion epilepsy
  • Massive myoclonia

This is a very uncommon condition that affects less than 6 out of 10,000 infants. It affects most babies before they turn one year old, especially between months 4 and 8. Also, boys account for slightly more than half of all infants with infantile spasms.

Types and Symptoms

TYPES

Depending on the underlying reason, your physician may refer to three different types of infantile spasms: 

Symptomatic. This occurs if other diseases cause the condition. 

Cryptogenic. It is classified as cryptogenic if the cause is unknown. 

Idiopathic. Normal psychomotor development before the symptoms occur. However, no underlying conditions may cause this type.

SYMPTOMS

According to experts, infantile spasms trigger seizures that last just a few seconds, but they occur in clusters. Also, there are 150 seizures detected in one cluster. Babies may experience 60 clusters of seizures in just one day.

Some symptoms in children with Infantile spasms include:

  • Acting as though they are blind
  • Appetite loss
  • Regression
  • Sleep habits shift like they tend to rest more during daytime and less time at nighttime
  • Crankiness
  • Development has slowed

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

If the doctor thinks this disease is present, they will ask about the patient’s seizures. You may provide a video during the event as evidence of the seizures. Besides, the infantile spasm is always confused with colic. 

Some of the doctors request a series of tests to avoid misconceptions about the condition. Tests may include: 

  • Urine test 
  • Blood test
  • EEG
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests
  • CT scan
  • MRI

TREATMENTS

Seizures may be controlled with the assistance of treatments. These may include the following:

  • Steroids
  • A special high-fat, low-carb diet 
  • Surgery
  • Anti-seizure medicines

Other kinds of treatments and support may be effective if your kid is experiencing developmental delays. Occupational therapy and posture assistance are two examples.

Related Articles

TETRALOGY OF FALLOT

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect that affects the [...]

TRICHINOSIS

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trichinosis, also known as trichinellosis, is a parasitic infection caused by [...]

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

Overview and FactsTypes and SymptomsDiagnosis & MedicationsOverview and Facts Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological condition characterized by severe facial pain. [...]