Infantile spasms are also known as West syndrome. It is a rare but serious kind of epilepsy that can affect infants. These seizures are brief repeated jerks which can cause long-lasting developmental issues if not diagnosed and treated promptly. As a parent, understanding the signs of infantile spasms may have a profound impact for your child’s future.
Be aware of the signs The symptoms of infantile spasms are
Infantile spasms are often subtle and could be misinterpreted for normal movement in infants. There are some distinct indicators to be aware of.
Sudden jerks – The spasms typically affect the neck as well as the upper portion of the body. The result is that they move forward quickly. The legs and arms could extend or flex rapidly.
A cluster of episodes : These jerks can occur in groups of several spasms in the course of a brief time (seconds to minutes). These clusters of spasms can happen throughout the daytime.
The expression of babies may cry or look a bit shocked when they are experiencing spasms.
The power of video The Power of Video: Capturing Infantile spasms for the early diagnosis
It is imperative to act quickly if suspect your child could be experiencing spasms in the infant. To ensure a timely diagnosis and a successful treatment, every second counts. Here are some situations where video recording can help save lives:
Visual evidence: Documenting your child’s reaction to a cluster of spasms gives doctors invaluable visual evidence for diagnosis. The short-term events are often overlooked by doctors during an appointment.
Clear video footage can help doctors to accurately identify infantile seizures and differentiate them from other types of seizures, or normal movement of babies.
Rapid treatment: Early detection can facilitate treatment in a short time possibly reducing developmental delays that result from untreated spasms among infants.
Take Action Now if You Think You’ve seen infantile spit-up
If you suspect your baby is having suspected infantile spasms
Capture video: Record the spasms with your phone or camera. Capture as much detail as you can.
Get in touch with your pediatrician as fast as possible. It is crucial that your child is seen by your pediatrician. Send the video to them and discuss your concerns.
Bring your child and the video to the nearest emergency room that is geared towards children, if you have to seek emergency care.
Early intervention is essential for securing your child’s future
Infantile spasms are a potential source of developmental issues, such as cerebral palsy or intellectual disabilities. Rapid diagnosis and intervention is crucial to improve the odds for your child’s recovery and achieving typical developmental milestones. Infantile spasms can be addressed through a variety of approaches such as diet and lifestyle changes to prescription medications. In more severe cases surgeries may be required. When addressing this problem through appropriate medical management as quickly as possible parents will increase the chances of minimizing negative long-term effects, and assist their child on his or her journey to improved motor and cognitive functioning. Learn more here Infantile Spasms Symptoms
Don’t be afraid to listen to your senses when there is an indication that something might be wrong with your baby. Always better to be safe instead of sorry. It’s essential to be aware of the infantile spasms and symptoms, take videos of them if you happen to see them and seek immediate medical attention.