Infantile spasms (also called West syndrome) can be caused by brain malformations, infections, brain injury, or abnormal blood vessels in the brain. IS also can happen in babies with certain metabolic and genetic disorders. In rare cases, a baby’s infantile spasms are caused by vitamin B6 deficiency.
Is it normal for my baby to have spasms?
Babies may have as many as 100 spasms a day. The seizures may be more likely to happen just as the baby is waking up. Infantile spasms most often begin between 4 and 7 months, but can start any time in the first few years of life. Later onset spasms may also occur but are rare.
How do I know if my baby has infantile spasms?
Symptoms of Infantile Spasms (IS)
Stiffen their legs or “tuck them into the belly,” as if having stomach pain. Suddenly bend at the waist. Drop or bob their heads briefly. Roll their eyes back suddenly with subtle head nodding.
What is the most common cause of infantile spasms?
The most common cause is an inherited condition called tuberous sclerosis complex. It makes noncancerous tumors grow in different body parts, like your baby’s brain, skin, kidneys, or other organs.
What are the signs to look for in neurological symptoms in infants?
Neonatal Neurological Disorder Symptoms
- Fussiness.
- Decreased level of consciousness.
- Abnormal movements.
- Feeding difficulty.
- Changes in body temperature.
- Rapid changes in head size and tense soft spot.
- Changes in muscle tone (either high or low)
What happens if infantile spasms are left untreated?
Left untreated, infantile spasms can lead to serious outcomes, including an estimated infant mortality rate of between 5% and 6%. The most significant concern, however, is that infantile spasms are associated with autism and intellectual deficits that permanently affect quality of life.
What is an infantile spasm?
Definition. An epileptic spasm is a specific type of seizure seen in an epilepsy syndrome of infancy and childhood often called West Syndrome. These are more commonly called infantile spasms (IS) since they are seen most often in the first year of life.
What is infant shudder syndrome?
Shuddering attacks (SA) are an uncommon benign disorder of infants and young children, with movements resembling shivering and straining, without impaired consciousness or epileptiform EEG, and showing resolution or improvement by 2 or 3 years of age.
Can infantile spasms go away on their own?
The sooner your little one starts treatment for infantile spasms or West syndrome, the better, because this condition can affect how their mind and body develop. In some cases, the seizures and spasms will stop on their own, but most children will need treatment.
Can GERD cause spasms in babies?
Infantile spasms are rare, occurring in one in 2,500 infants. Physicians — even neurologists — often misdiagnose them as normal baby movements, colic, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, the researchers said.
Can a baby with infantile spasms live a normal life?
An etiologic diagnosis is very important because it can lead to initiation of a specific therapy that may markedly improve the long-term developmental outcome. In fact, some children with infantile spasms may ultimately lead normal lives, but only if they are diagnosed and treated correctly.
Does infantile spasms cause brain damage?
Infantile spasms is a complex and rare disorder that can have very serious consequences. It can lead to death in some babies, and cause intellectual disabilities and developmental problems in others. Even once the seizures are gone, the damaging brain effects can remain.
How quickly does vigabatrin work for infantile spasms?
Following a cohort of 180 infants with infantile spasms treated with vigabatrin as the first drug, this study found that vigabatrin was able to terminate spasms in 101 patients (56.9%) in a mean period of 5 days.