Infantile spasms (also known as West Syndrome) is a severe and uncommon epilepsy which affects infants. These seizures are short repeated jerks that can result in developmental issues later on if they are not addressed and treated immediately. As a parent, knowing the signs of infantile spasms may have a profound impact to your child’s development.
Spotting the Signs The Symptoms of Infantile Spasms
Infantile spasms are often subtle and are often misinterpreted as normal movements of a baby. However, there are some specific features to be able to spot:
Rapid jerks: These spasms generally involve the neck of the infant and its upper body, which causes them to bend forward quickly. The legs and arms could also move rapidly.
The jerks often occur in clusters of spasms that occur over an extremely short time (seconds to minutes). These can happen in a series throughout the day.
Babies can appear agitated or cry out in spasms.
The Power of Video Capturing Infantile Spasms Early Diagnosis
The timing is critical if you think your child might be suffering from spasms in the infant. In order to get an early diagnosis and a successful treatment, every second counts. Here are some situations where video recording could help save lives:
Visual evidence When you document the child’s spasms, parents can give doctors valuable visual evidence that can help them diagnose. These minor events can be missed at a doctor’s visit.
The video will help doctors to make an accurate diagnosis of infantile spasms and differentiate them from other types or seizures.
Faster treatment: A quick diagnosis allows the treatment to start quickly possibly reducing the risk of delays in development that can be caused by non-treated infantile spasms.
If you suspect that your infant is experiencing spasms, you must take action immediately.
If you see your baby experiencing infantile spasms, you should be concerned.
Video capture using your phone or camera to take a clear video of spasms. Make sure you record as much detail as possible.
Contact your pediatrician immediately The moment you can get your child evaluated by a pediatrician can be crucial. You should explain your concerns and provide the video. Be sure to emphasize the urgency.
Seek emergency care if necessary If access to your pediatrician unavailable, you should take your baby along with the video to the nearest emergency center which treats children.
Early intervention is the first step to Protecting Your Child’s Future
Infantile spasms can cause severe developmental delays, which include intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy as well as autism spectrum disorders. It is essential to recognize your child’s symptoms quickly and intervene immediately in order to maximize the chances of recovery and milestones your child will experience. There are a variety of treatment options available to deal with infantile spasms that range from medical interventions and specialized diets and in extreme cases it is possible that surgical intervention is necessary. Parents can help their children attain improved motor and cognitive functioning by addressing the issue early enough. Learn more here Infantile Spasms Videos
Don’t be afraid to listen to your feeling if you have an indication that something might be wrong with your baby. It is always better to be cautious instead of sorry. It’s important to know the infantile spasms symptoms, capture footage of them in case you see them and seek immediate medical care.