Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, is a rare and serious type of epilepsy that affects babies. These seizures are brief repeated jerks that can result in developmental issues later on if not identified and treated quickly. As a parent, knowing the signs of infantile spasms can make a world of difference for your child’s future.
The Signs to look out for: Infantile Spasms Symptoms
Infantile spasms may be difficult to differentiate from normal baby movements. But, there are certain signs to be aware of:
A sudden jerk. The spasms are typically felt in the neck or upper body of a newborn, which causes them to turn to the side. Arms and legs may also extend or bend rapidly.
Clustered episodes: These spasms are often grouped together in a short time (seconds or minutes). The clusters can occur repeatedly throughout the day.
Expression changes Babies can cry or appear startled during the movements.
The Power Of Video: Capturing Spasms of Infants for Early Diagnoses
It is imperative to act quickly if suspect your child could have spasms in the infant. Early diagnosis and treatment are dependent on each and every minute. Here are a few instances where video recording can save lives:
Visual evidence If you record your child’s spasms, you can offer doctors images to aid in diagnosing. These short events are sometimes overlooked by doctors during an appointment.
A clear video helps doctors to accurately identify infantile seizures. It also helps distinguish them from other types seizures, or normal movement in infants.
Rapid treatment: Early diagnosis may enable quick treatment, potentially minimizing developmental delays that result from untreated spasms in infants.
Do Something Now if You Think You’ve seen infantile spit-up
If you are concerned that your child is experiencing infantile spasms, then:
Capture video: Record the spasms by using your smartphone or camera, and then capture as much detail as you can.
Make an appointment with your pediatrician immediately. It’s essential to get your child the presence of a doctor. Explain your concerns, share the video footage, and stress the urgency of the situation.
It is imperative to seek urgent emergency medical assistance, if you need it. If you can’t reach your pediatric doctor immediately, you should take the infant and video recorder to a nearby emergency department for children.
Early Intervention is the first step for ensuring the future of your child.
Infantile spasms are able to cause significant developmental delays which can result in a range of problems, including intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder as well as cerebral palsy. In order to optimize your child’s chances of recovering and achieving developmental milestones, it is imperative to recognize and treat them immediately. Infantile spasms can be treated with a variety, from dietary changes to medications. In more serious cases surgical intervention may be necessary. If you can address this issue by implementing appropriate medical treatment as quickly as possible, parents can increase the chances of minimizing long-term effects and helping their child in his or their journey to improve cognitive and motor function.
Always listen to your gut whenever you feel that something could be wrong with your child. Always be cautious. It’s essential to be aware of infantile spasms symptoms, capture an image of them when you happen to see them, and get immediate medical care.