Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, is a rare and serious type of epilepsy that affects babies. If not treated and diagnosed quickly, these seizures can lead to developmental issues. Understanding the symptoms and signs of infantile spasms are crucial to the future of your child.
The Signs to look out for: Infantile Spasms Symptoms
Infantile spasms tend to be mild and are often misinterpreted as normal infant movements. There are some distinct signs to watch out for.
Spontaneous jerks typically affect the neck and upper body, which causes them to bend quickly. Legs and arms can extend or flex rapidly.
In clustered episodes, the are jerks that occur in groups of several spasms in a short duration (seconds to a minute). These clusters may happen repeatedly throughout the day.
Change of expression Babies might cry or seem agitated during flashes.
The Power of Video – Capturing Infantile spasms for Early Diagnosis
If you think your baby may be experiencing infantile spasms then time is crucial. In order to get an early diagnosis and effective treatment, each second counts. A video recording can save your life:
Visual evidence When you document your child’s movements, you will provide your doctor with important visual evidence to help diagnose. These minor events can be overlooked during a doctor’s appointment.
Clear video footage can help doctors pinpoint infantile seizures and differentiate them from other kinds of seizures or normal movements for babies.
Treatment speed: Early diagnosis can enable quick treatment, potentially minimizing developmental delays that are associated with non-treated spasms in infants.
If you suspect that your child is having spasms, act immediately.
If you see your baby having a hard time sleeping, you should know:
Make an audio or video. Utilize your camera or phone to capture as much detail of the spasms as possible.
Get in touch with your pediatrician as soon as possible. It’s crucial to bring your child in the presence of a pediatrician. Show the video and explain your concerns.
Bring your child along with the video to the nearest emergency room which treats children if you need to seek urgent care.
Early intervention is crucial to protecting your child’s future
Infantile spasms have the potential to cause serious developmental setbacks that can be a result of a variety of issues, including autism spectrum disorder as well as cerebral palsy. It is vital to determine the condition of your child’s condition quickly and act immediately in order to maximize the odds of recovery and milestones your child will experience. There are a variety of treatment options available to treat infantile spasms including pharmaceutical treatments and specialized diets and in the more serious cases it is possible that surgical intervention is warranted. By addressing the issue through appropriate medical management as quickly as possible parents increase the chance of minimizing any long-term consequences and assisting their child in his or his or her path to better motor and cognitive functioning.
Don’t be afraid to listen to your sensations if there’s a suspicion that something may be wrong with the baby. Always be aware. It’s important to be aware of the infantile spasms symptoms, capture footage of them in case you notice these signs and seek medical care.