Infantile spasms (also referred to as West Syndrome) is a serious and uncommon form of epilepsy that is affecting infants. If not treated and diagnosed promptly, these seizures could lead to developmental issues. As a parent, knowing the symptoms of infantile spasms can have a profound impact to your child’s development.
Find the symptoms The symptoms of infantile spasms are
Infantile spasms can be subtle and easily mistaken for normal baby movements. There are some specific warning signs to look out for.
Sudden jerks. The spasms are typically experienced in the neck and upper body of a newborn baby. This prompts them to quickly lean forward. Additionally, the legs and arms can flex or stretch quickly.
In clustered episodes, these jerks often occur in clusters of a number of spasms over an extremely short time (seconds to minutes). These clusters may happen repeatedly throughout the day.
Expression changes Babies might cry or appear startled during the flashes.
The Power of Video – Capturing infantile spasms and triggering early Diagnosis
You must act swiftly if you think your child may be experiencing spasms in the infant. Early diagnosis and treatment are dependent on each and every minute. Here are some instances when recording video can help save lives:
Visual evidence: Recording your child’s experience with a series of spasms provides doctors with crucial evidence to make a diagnosis. These brief events can be overlooked by doctors during an appointment.
A clear video aids doctors pinpoint infantile seizures and differentiate them with other types of seizures or normal movements in babies.
Treatment speed: Early diagnosis may provide a quick treatment and may help to reduce developmental delays which are caused by non-treated spasms in infants.
If you suspect that your child is having spasms, take immediate action.
If you notice your child having a hard time sleeping, you should know:
Capture a video using your phone or camera to record an accurate video of spasms, capturing as much detail as you can.
Call your pediatrician immediately: Getting your child seen by a pediatrician can be crucial. Discuss your concerns, provide the video footage, and emphasize the urgency of the situation.
Take your child and video to the nearest emergency center that takes care of children in the event that you require to seek emergency care.
Early intervention is key to protecting your child’s future
The effects of infantile spasms could be severe developmental delays, which include intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy as well as autism spectrum disorders. To increase your child’s chance of regaining and reaching developmental milestones it is imperative to recognize and treat them immediately. The treatment for infantile spasms is by a variety of methods that range from diet modifications to pharmaceuticals. In more serious cases it may require surgery. If you can address this issue by implementing appropriate medical treatment whenever possible parents can improve the likelihood of minimizing long-term effects and helping their child on his or her journey to improved motor and cognitive functioning.
Don’t ignore your instincts if you think something is wrong for your child. Always be aware. It’s essential to know the infantile spasms and symptoms, take a video of them if you observe these signs and seek medical care.