Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, is a rare and serious epilepsy condition that affects infants. These seizures are brief repeated jerks which can cause permanent developmental issues in the event that they are not addressed and treated quickly. Knowing the indicators of infantile jerks parents can make a huge difference in your child’s development.
Recognizing the Signs: Infantile Spasms Symptoms
Infantile spasms can be subtle and easily mistaken for normal baby movements. But, there are certain characteristics to look out for:
Instinctive jerks typically involve the neck of the infant as well as its upper body, which causes them to bend forward quickly. Furthermore, the arms and legs could flex or stretch out rapidly.
In clustered episodes, the triggers may be seen in groups of spasms that are multiple over a short duration (seconds to a minute). The clusters may occur frequently during the time of the day.
Change in expression: Babies may cry or appear to be shocked in the event of spasms.
The Power of Video: Capturing Spasms and Movements in Infants for Early Diagnoses
You must act swiftly if you think your child is experiencing infantile spasms. The early diagnosis and treatment is dependent on every moment. Here are some instances when video recording can save lives:
Visual evidence If you record your child’s movements, you can provide doctors with valuable images to aid in diagnosing. These brief events may not be noticed during a physician’s visit.
The video will allow doctors to make an accurate diagnosis of infantile spasms and differentiate them from other types or seizures.
Treatment can begin sooner A diagnosis early could enable treatment to begin more quickly. This could reduce the risk of developmental delay associated with untreated infantile sprains.
Don’t Wait: Urgent Steps When You Suspect Infantile Spasms
If you observe your baby being prone to infantile spasms
Capture a video using your phone or camera to record a clear video of the spasms, capturing as much detail as you can.
Get in touch with your pediatrician as fast as possible. It is important that your child visit their pediatrician. Send the video to them and discuss your concerns.
Bring your child and the video to the nearest emergency room that treats children if you need to seek out emergency medical attention.
Early Intervention is the first step to safeguarding your child’s future
Infantile spasms can be a trigger to trigger significant developmental setbacks that can be a result of a variety of difficulties, such as intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder as well as cerebral palsy. In order to optimize your child’s chances of healing and completing developmental milestones, it is vital to diagnose and treat them quickly. There are a variety of treatment options available for infantile spasms. They include diet as well as pharmaceutical treatments. If the issue is very severe, surgery could also be necessary. When you tackle this issue as soon as it is detected with the appropriate medical treatment, parents increase the probability of mitigating long-term consequences and assist their child’s progression toward better motor and cognitive functioning.
Do not ignore your gut senses when there is a suspicion that something may be wrong with your baby. Always be aware. It is important to know the infantile spasms and symptoms, take videos of them if you notice them and seek immediate medical attention.