Infantile spasms, also known as West syndrome is a rare and serious type of epilepsy that affects infants. If not dealt with and diagnosed early enough, seizures can cause developmental problems. Recognizing the signs of infantile jerks as a parent can make a huge difference in your child’s life.
Recognizing the Signs The Symptoms of Infantile Spasms
Infantile spasms can be subtle and easily mistaken for normal baby movements. However, there are some signs to keep in mind:
A sudden jerk. The spasms are typically experienced in the neck and upper body of a child, which causes them to quickly bend inward. Arms and legs may extend or flex rapidly.
Clustered episodes : These jerks can occur in groups of spasms with multiple spasms, over the course of a brief time (seconds to a minute). These clusters of spasms may happen throughout the daytime.
Baby may seem agitated, or cry when they are in a spasm.
The Power of Video: Capturing Spasms In Infants for Early Diagnoses
If you are concerned that your baby might be experiencing infantile spasms or other issues, time is crucial. Early diagnosis and treatment are dependent on every second. Here are a few instances where video recording can help save lives:
Visual evidence by recording your child’s spasms, you can offer doctors visual evidence to help diagnose. Sometimes, these brief instances can be missed during a doctor’s appointment.
Accurate diagnosis: Clear video helps doctors diagnose infantile spasms and differentiate them from other kinds of seizures as well as normal baby movement.
Treatment speed: Early detection can facilitate treatment in a short time which could reduce the developmental delay caused by untreated spasms in infants.
If you suspect that your infant is experiencing spasms, act immediately.
If you believe that your child is suffering from infantile spasms, then:
Capture a video: Use your phone or camera to record an uncluttered video of the spasms, recording the most detail you can.
Contact your pediatrician as soon as possible. It is important that your child visit their doctor. Explain your concerns, share the video, and stress the urgency of the situation.
You should seek immediate emergency care, if needed. If you’re unable to contact your pediatrician immediately, take the infant and video recorder to an emergency facility nearby for children.
Early Intervention is the most important factor to ensuring your child’s future
Infantile spasms can be a trigger to precipitate notable developmental setbacks, encompassing a spectrum of problems, including intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder and cerebral palsy. It is crucial to identify your child quickly and intervene immediately in order to maximize the chance of healing and milestones for your child. There are a variety of treatment options available for infantile spasms. They include diet as well as pharmaceutical treatments. If the condition is serious, surgery may be needed. When addressing this problem through appropriate medical management as soon possible parents will increase the likelihood of minimizing negative long-term effects, and assist their child along the path to improving motor and cognitive functioning.
Be aware of the instincts of your body if you suspect there’s something going on with your baby. Always prefer to be safe rather than sorry. You can help your child keep them healthy and happy by educating yourself about signs and signs of infantile sprains. If you notice them, take a video and seek immediate medical attention.