Infantile spasms also known as West syndrome is a rare, severe form of epilepsy that affects infants. If not treated and diagnosed promptly, these seizures could lead to developmental issues. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of infantile spasms can be crucial for the long-term development of your child.
Be aware of the signs: Infantile spasms symptoms
Infantile spasms can be subtle and easily mistaken for normal baby movements. There are certain signs to watch out for.
Spasms that occur suddenly typically affect the neck as well as upper body. This causes them to be able to bend rapidly forward. The arms and legs can also move rapidly.
In clustered episodes, the snaps may occur in clusters of several spasms in an insignificant amount of time (seconds to minutes). These clusters of spasms can occur at any time during the all day.
The expression of babies may cry or look a bit shocked when they are experiencing spasms.
The Power of Video: Capturing Spasms in infants to detect early diagnoses
The timing is critical if you think your child might have spasms in the infant. Every second counts when it comes to ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment. This is where recording a video could be lifesaving:
Visual evidence: By recording your child’s spasms, you can give doctors valuable visual evidence that can help them diagnose. Sometimes, these small incidents can be overlooked in a doctor’s visit.
The video can help doctors to make an accurate diagnosis of infantile spasms and differentiate the different types of seizures.
Treatment speed: Early diagnosis may facilitate treatment in a short time, potentially minimizing developmental delays which are caused by untreated spasms in infants.
Do Something Now if You Think You’ve seen infantile spit-up
If you notice your child experiencing suspected infantile spasms:
Capture video: Take a video of the spasms using your phone or camera. Capture as much detail as you can.
Call your pediatrician as quick as possible. It is crucial that your child is seen by your pediatrician. Explain your concerns, share the video recording, and emphasize the urgency of the situation.
Bring your child along with the video to the closest emergency room that takes care of children in the event that you require to seek out emergency medical attention.
Early Intervention is the key to Protecting Your Child’s Future
Infantile spasms are able to cause serious developmental setbacks and can cause a wide range of issues, including autism spectrum disorder as well as cerebral palsy. It is vital to determine the condition of your child’s condition quickly and act immediately to maximize the chance of healing and milestones your child will experience. The treatment for infantile spasms is by a variety of methods including diet changes, to prescription medications. In more serious cases it may require surgery. Parents can help their children achieve improved cognition and motor skills by addressing the condition early enough.
Don’t ignore your gut sensations if there’s the suspicion that something could be wrong with the baby. It’s always safer to be cautious instead of being sorry. It’s crucial to be aware of the infantile spasms and symptoms, take footage of them in case you happen to see these signs and seek medical attention.