West Syndrome: A Guide For Parents On Recognizing And Reacting

Infantile spasms also known as West syndrome, is a rare and serious epilepsy condition that affects infants. These seizures are brief, repetitive jerks that can cause permanent developmental issues in the event that they are not addressed and treated quickly. As a parent you must be aware of the symptoms of infantile spasms could be a huge difference to your child’s development.

The Signs to look out for The Symptoms of Infantile Spasms

The infantile spasms can be subtle and are often misinterpreted as normal infant movements. But there are some specific characteristics to be aware of:

Spontaneous jerks usually affect the neck and upper part of the body. They be able to bend rapidly forward. Also, legs and arms could bend or stretch in a rapid manner.

A cluster of episodes : These triggers may be seen in groups of spasms with multiple spasms, over short periods of time (seconds to minutes). These clusters can occur repeatedly throughout the period of the day.

Babys may appear startled or cry out in spasms.

The Power of Video – Capturing infantile spasms and triggering early Diagnosis

If you suspect your baby might be having infantile spasms or other issues, time is crucial. Early diagnosis and treatment are dependent on every second. Video recording could be lifesaving:

Visual evidence. Recording your child having the spasms for a long time can be extremely helpful to doctors in diagnosing the issue. These brief events can be missed by doctors during an appointment.

A clear video helps doctors accurately diagnose infantile seizures. It also helps distinguish them from other kinds of seizures, or normal movement of babies.

Rapider treatment: A rapid diagnosis allows treatment to begin quickly and reduces the chance of delays in development that can be caused by untreated infantile spasms.

Get Help Now if You suspect that your child has spastics

If you see your baby being prone to infantile spasms

Record a video: Use your phone or camera to record a clear video of spasms. Capture as much detail as possible.

Call your pediatrician as quick as you can. It is essential that your child sees your pediatrician. Make sure to share the video and talk about your concerns.

Get emergency treatment if needed If access to your pediatrician is not possible, bring your child and the video recording to the closest emergency room which treats children.

Early intervention is vital to protecting your child’s future

Infantile spasms can be a trigger to cause significant developmental delays, encompassing a spectrum of challenges such as intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and cerebral palsy. Rapid diagnosis and intervention is paramount in optimizing the prospects for your child’s recovery and achieving typical developmental milestones. Infantile spasms can be treated with a variety, from dietary changes or medications. In more serious cases it may require surgery. When addressing this problem with the appropriate medical treatment early enough, parents can increase chances of minimizing the any long-term consequences and assisting their child along his or her path to better cognitive and motor function. Learn more here Infantile Spasms Videos

Never ignore your gut instinct If you believe that something might be wrong in your child. It’s always safer instead of sorry. You can help your child be happy and healthy by educating yourself about signs and symptoms of infantile strains. If you observe them, you should take a picture and get medical attention immediately.

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