Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome, is a rare and serious type of epilepsy that affects babies. These seizures are short repeated jerks that can cause developmental issues later on if they are not diagnosed and treated promptly. Recognizing the signs of infantile jerks as the parent can change the course of your child’s development.
Recognizing the Signs Early Symptoms: Infantile Spasms
Spasms in infants can be nebulous and can be easily misinterpreted as normal movements of a baby. There are certain indicators to be aware of.
Involuntary jerks usually affect the neck and upper part of the body. This causes them to be able to bend rapidly forward. The legs and arms could also be moved quickly.
Clustered episodes: These spasms tend to be grouped in the space of a few minutes (seconds or minutes). These clusters can happen repeatedly throughout the period of the day.
Baby may seem agitated, or cry during a rage of screams.
The Power of Video: Capturing Spasms of infants to detect early diagnoses
You must act swiftly when you suspect your child is experiencing infantile spasms. Every minute counts towards ensuring an early diagnosis and treatment. The following are some instances where video recording could save your life:
Visual evidence. Documenting your child’s experience with a cluster of spasms can be incredibly helpful to doctors when it comes to diagnosing the issue. These short events are sometimes overlooked by doctors during an appointment.
Accurate diagnosis: A clear video can help doctors identify infantile spasms, and distinguish them from other types of seizures as well as normal baby movement.
Rapider treatment: A rapid diagnosis allows for the treatment to start quickly possibly reducing the risk of developmental delays resulting from non-treated infantile spasms.
If you suspect infantile spasms, act immediately.
If you believe that your child is suffering from infantile spasms then:
Create an audio or video. Use your camera, or phone to capture as many details of the spasms as possible.
Contact your pediatrician as soon as you can. It is essential to ensure that your child visits their doctor. You should explain your concerns and then share the video. Make sure you emphasize the importance of this appointment.
It is important to seek emergency care, if needed. If you’re unable to contact your pediatrician immediately, take the infant and video recorder to an emergency room nearby for children.
Early intervention is essential to safeguarding your child’s future
Infantile spasms are able to cause significant developmental delays, encompassing a spectrum of problems, including autism spectrum disorder as well as cerebral palsy. It is crucial to identify your child’s condition quickly and act immediately in order to maximize the odds of recovery and milestones your child will experience. Various treatment modalities exist to address infantile spasms ranging from pharmaceutical interventions to specialized dietary regimens, and in more severe cases surgery may be warranted. Parents can aid their children improve their cognitive and motor functioning by addressing the issue promptly.
Do not ignore your gut feeling if you have the suspicion that something could be wrong with the baby. Always be on guard. It’s important to know infantile spasms ‘ symptoms, make videos of them if you happen to see these signs and seek medical care.
