Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, is a rare and serious type of epilepsy that affects babies. These seizures are short frequent jerks, which could cause long-lasting developmental issues should they not be treated quickly. Recognizing the symptoms of infantile jerks as a parent can make a huge difference in your child’s life.
Infantile spasms: Signs and indications to be on the lookout for
Infantile spasms tend to be mild and may be misinterpreted as normal movements in babies. However, there are some characteristics to keep in mind:
Spasms that occur suddenly usually affect the neck and the upper portion of the body. This causes them to move forward quickly. The legs and arms could also move rapidly.
The are usually seen in clusters of a number of spasms over brief time (seconds to minutes). These clusters may happen repeatedly throughout the day.
Baby may seem agitated, or cry when they are in a spasm.
The Power of Video: Capturing Spasms of infants to detect early diagnoses
It is imperative to act fast when you suspect your child is suffering from spasms in the infant. In order to ensure early diagnosis and effective treatment, each second counts. Here are a few scenarios where video recording can help save lives:
Visual evidence. Documenting your child’s experience with the spasms for a long time can be incredibly helpful to doctors when it comes to diagnosing the issue. The short-term events are often not noticed by doctors at an appointment.
Accurate diagnosis: A clear video helps doctors diagnose infantile spasms, and distinguish them from other types of seizures, or normal baby movements.
Treatment speed: Early detection can allow for rapid treatment and may help to reduce developmental delays caused by untreated spasms that occur in infants.
Don’t wait: Take Urgent Action If You Think Your Child is Having Spasms
If you see your baby with suspected infantile spasms
Create an audio or video. Use your camera or phone to record as many details of the spasms as is possible.
Make contact with your pediatrician as quickly as you can. It is crucial that your child is seen by your pediatrician. It is important to discuss your concerns and provide the video. Also, stress the urgency.
If you require emergency medical attention: If immediate access to a pediatrician is not possible, bring your child and the video recorder to the nearest emergency facility which treats children.
Early Intervention is the most important factor to safeguarding your child’s future
Infantile spasms could be the cause of developmental problems that include cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. In order to optimize your child’s chance of regaining and reaching developmental milestones it is imperative to diagnose and treat them quickly. Different treatment methods are available to treat infantile spasms ranging from pharmaceutical interventions to specific diet regimens and in more severe instances surgery may be required. When addressing this problem with the appropriate medical treatment early enough parents will increase the chance of minimizing any long-term consequences and assisting their child along their journey to improve cognitive and motor function.
Don’t be afraid to listen to your feeling if you have an indication that something might be wrong with your baby. Always be cautious. By being aware of signs of infantile spasms recording a video in the event that you witness the signs, and seeking immediate medical attention, you will be able to be proactive in ensuring your child’s health as well as his future well-being.