Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, is a rare and serious type of epilepsy that affects babies. These seizures are short repeated jerks which can cause long-lasting developmental issues should they not be treated quickly. Recognizing the signs of infantile jerks when you are the parent can make a huge difference in your child’s life.
Identifying the Signs Early Symptoms: Infantile Spasms
Infantile spasms may be difficult to differentiate from normal movements of a baby. But there are certain characteristics to be aware of:
Involuntary jerks typically affect the neck and upper body. The result is that they be able to bend rapidly forward. Legs and arms can extend or flex rapidly.
Clustered episodes: These spasms typically occur in an extremely short amount of time (seconds or even minutes). These clusters can occur repeatedly throughout the day.
Change of expression Babies can cry or appear agitated during flashes.
The power of video: Capturing Infantile Spasms for Early Diagnosis
Time is crucial if you think your child might be suffering from infantile spasms. Early diagnosis and treatment are dependent on each and every minute. Here are some instances when video recordings can help save lives:
Visual evidence by recording the child’s spasms, parents can provide doctors with valuable visual evidence to help diagnose. Sometimes, these short events can be missed in a doctor’s visit.
The video will allow doctors to make an accurate diagnosis of infantile spasms and to differentiate them from other types of seizures.
Treatment may begin earlier The early diagnosis could help treatment begin quicker. This can reduce the risk of developmental delay associated with untreated infantile sprains.
Get Help Now if You Think You’ve seen infantile spit-up
If you believe that your child is experiencing infantile spasms, you should:
Create an audio or video. Use your camera or phone to record as detailed details of the spasms as is possible.
Make an appointment with your pediatrician immediately. It’s important to bring your child in the presence of a doctor. Your concerns should be explained and share the video. Also, stress the urgency.
You should seek immediate emergency treatment, if necessary. If you can’t reach your pediatric physician immediately, bring the baby and video recording to a nearby emergency department for children.
Early Intervention is Key: Preserving your child’s future
Infantile spasms can be a cause of developmental problems that include cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. Rapid diagnosis and intervention is crucial in maximizing the chance of your child’s recovery and attaining normal developmental milestones. Various treatment modalities exist to treat infantile spasms that range from medical interventions to special diets and in more severe cases it is possible that surgical intervention is required. If you can address this issue with the appropriate medical treatment as quickly as possible, parents can increase the chances of minimizing adverse effects over time and aiding their child on his or the path to improving motor and cognitive function.
Do not ignore the instincts of your body if you suspect there’s something not right with your child. Always be vigilant. It is important to know infantile spasms symptoms, capture videos of them if you see them, and get immediate medical care.