Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, is a rare and serious type of epilepsy that affects babies. These seizures are short repeated jerks which can cause long-lasting developmental issues should they not be treated quickly. As a parent, being aware of the symptoms of infantile spasms could make all the difference to your child’s development.
Recognizing the Signs Early Symptoms: Infantile Spasms
Spasms in infants are usually subtle and may be misinterpreted as normal infant movements. But there are certain characteristics that you should be aware of:
The sudden jerks. The spasms can be felt in the neck or upper body of a newborn, which causes them to lean inward. The legs and arms could also be moved quickly.
In clustered episodes, the snaps may occur in clusters of multiple spasms over the course of a brief time (seconds to a minute). These clusters can occur repeatedly during the period of the day.
Expression changes: Babies might cry or seem startled in the event of spasms.
The Power of Video: Capturing Spasms in infants for early diagnosis
If you are concerned that your baby might be suffering from infantile spasms, then time is crucial. Early diagnosis and treatment are dependent on each and every minute. Capturing a video could help save your life
Visual evidence. The recording of your child’s having a cluster of spasms can be extremely helpful to doctors in diagnosing the condition. Sometimes, these minor events can be missed in a doctor’s visit.
A clear video helps doctors identify infantile seizures and differentiate them from other types of seizures or normal movements in babies.
Rapid treatment: Early diagnosis can provide a quick treatment possibly reducing developmental delays that result from non-treated spasms in infants.
Do Something Now if You Are afraid of infantile spasms
If you suspect your baby is experiencing infantile spasms, you should be concerned.
Take an audio or video. Use your camera or phone to capture as as much detail of the spasms as you can.
Make contact with your pediatrician as quickly as possible. It is imperative that your child is seen by their doctor. Discuss your concerns, provide the video, and emphasize the urgency of the situation.
It is imperative to seek urgent emergency care, if needed. If you are unable to reach your pediatric physician immediately, bring your baby and the video to an emergency room nearby for children.
Early intervention is crucial in ensuring your child’s future
Infantile spasms can cause severe developmental delays, which include intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorders. Rapid diagnosis and intervention is essential to maximize the chances for your child’s healing and attaining normal developmental milestones. There are numerous treatment options available for infantile spasms. These include dietary as well as pharmaceutical treatments. If the problem is severe, surgery may be needed. By addressing the issue quickly through appropriate medical management, parents can enhance the likelihood of mitigating long-term consequences and aiding their child’s progress toward better motor and cognitive functioning.
Do not ignore your gut whenever you feel that something could be wrong for your child. It’s always safer to be cautious than sorry. It’s important to be aware of signs of infantile spasms, and take a video of them if you notice them, and get immediate medical care.