At What Age Do Infantile Spasms Start
Healthcare providers diagnose infantile spasms in babies younger than 12 months of age in 90% of cases. The average age of diagnosis is between four and seven months of age.
When children whore older than 12 months have spells resembling infantile spasms, theyre typically classified as epileptic spasms.
Effects Of Seizures On Newborns
Neonatal seizures can be subtle and difficult to recognize clinically, so timely EEG and laboratory testing are essential in confirming the diagnosis. Cranial imaging, such as CT or MRI are also often recommended. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, early treatment of the seizures, as well as the underlying cause, is required.
The prognosis for infants with seizures will depend on the cause and the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment. It is essential that early investigation and treatment is undertaken by the appropriate medical specialists.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Baby Having A Seizure
The symptoms for a baby having seizures will vary depending on the type of seizure the infant is experiencing:
- A baby experiencing a subtle seizure may have symptoms that can appear to be normal behaviour for an infant like lip-smacking, pedaling legs, fluttering eyelids.
- Tonic infant seizures will display as a stiffening of muscles like holding the head to one side without releasing.
- Clonic seizures will manifest with a sustained repeated jerking or clenching motion in the face or fingers.
You May Like: When Can I Bathe My Newborn Baby
What Does An Infant Seizure Look Like Compare Baby
Another sign is when somebody parts, symptoms, Testing is essential to confirm the diagnosis of a seizure disorder.If your child has a seizure, These seizures are the most common type of infant seizures and are usually caused by a fever above 102 degrees, and their eyes may roll, A seizure usually affects how a person looks or acts for a short time, there are a few things you can do to help doctorsWhat are the Signs of Infant Seizures?Signs and Symptoms of Infant Seizures, Often several spasms occur over a few minutes, neck or upper arms start jerking in clusters severally it means that the infant is having a seizure known as myoclonic seizures, this seizure is a common type that attacks infants, It is one of the most common disorders of the nervous system.
Dont Miss: How Much Formula Do I Give My Newborn
What To Do If Your Baby Has A Seizure
See your pediatrician if you think your baby is having seizures. If possible, take a video of the episode on your smartphone to show to your doctor, suggests Dr. Hartman, who is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neurology. Its important to pay attention to these things:
- How long the seizure lasts
- Where the seizure started and whether it spread to other body parts
- What the movement looked like
- What your baby was doing right before the episode
It can be frightening to watch your baby in the grips of a seizure. The most important thing you can do is make sure she is protected from injuries. Move away hard objects and roll her onto her side to help prevent choking in case she vomits. Do not try to snap her out of it or place anything in her mouth. Call 911 if your baby has trouble breathing, turns blue, seizes for more than five minutes, or is unresponsive for 30 minutes after a seizure ends.
If your baby is prone to seizures, your doctor may order a diagnostic test, such as an electroencephalogram , which traces the electrical waves of the brain, or a brain-imaging test, such as a magnetic resonance imaging scan, to determine a cause.
Copyright & copy 2014 Meredith Corporation.
Don’t Miss: Why Newborn Baby Cry A Lot
Whats The Difference Between Infantile Spasms And West Syndrome
West syndrome happens when your baby has a combination of symptoms, including:
- Infantile spasms.
- Abnormal brain wave patterns called hypsarrhythmia.
- Developmental delays or developmental regression.
While babies whore affected by infantile spasms often have West syndrome, they can experience infantile spasms without having or later developing developmental delays.
What Do Focal Seizures Look Like
Patients suffering from a complex focal seizure may look blankly into space or exhibit automatisms . They may also have the tendency to fall to the ground.
A patient with a simple focal seizure will usually complain of an intense feeling in one part of the body. For example, she might say that her arm or leg is “twitching.”
In general, if you were watching someone having a seizure, you would see them moving their head from side to side, jerking their arms, and twitching their mouth. However, each person’s seizure is different so please remember not to judge what other people are going through by their appearance. A lot of effort has been put into drawing up standard photographs of people having various types of seizure but these can only give an indication of what might happen. You should always call an ambulance if you think someone may be having a seizure.
People who know what they’re doing can control how their patient appears during a seizure. Focal seizures can be controlled by performing specific tasks such as pressing a button or turning a knob. Therefore, patients may appear dead for some time before awakening to find that they’ve stopped whatever it was they were doing.
Recommended Reading: How Much Do Newborns Sleep
Other Signs You Cant See
A condition called tuberous sclerosis is a common cause of West syndrome. It can cause noncancerous tumors that often look like colorless bumps on your babyâs skin. The doctor may use a special lamp to check for them.
Blood and urine tests can help the doctor figure out if your baby has an infection thatâs causing West syndrome. The doctor might also want to do a lumbar puncture and take some of the fluid out of their spine to check for meningitis. They can also use that fluid to see if a genetic problem is to blame for their West syndrome.
What Causes Seizures In Infants And Children
A high fever can sometimes cause seizures in young children. These are also called febrile convulsions.
Children can also have a seizure because of:
- a lack of oxygen to the brain
Certain triggers, such as flashing lights, can also lead to seizures in some children.
Most children wont have another seizure. But children who have repeated and unpredictable seizures might have epilepsy.
Read Also: How Many Diapers Do You Need For Newborn
Symptoms In The Brain
Even though they’re tiny, thereâs a lot of electrical activity going in your babyâs brain. If itâs abnormal, they might have seizures. Your babyâs doctor may use electroencephalography — EEG for short — to measure their brain activity while they’re awake and asleep. Theyâll put sticky tabs called electrodes on their head, and a machine will record the data they pick up. Babies with infantile spasms often have an abnormal pattern of electrical activity in their brains. It’s called hypsarrhythmia.
The doctor might also want to do scans of their brain. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans create pictures that will let them see if there are any parts of it that havenât formed the right way. These pictures can also show lesions, or places where injury or infection may have damaged their brain.
What Causes West Syndrome
Anything that damages the brain can cause infantile spasms. Some of the causes happen before a baby is born, and some happen after birth.
The most common cause is an inherited condition called tuberous sclerosis complex. It makes noncancerous tumors grow in different body parts, like your babyâs brain, skin, kidneys, or other organs. If your baby has them, you might notice colorless bumps on their skin.
Genetic conditions like Down syndrome can cause these spasms, too. Or it could come from a noninherited problem with your babyâs genes.
Other causes of West syndrome include:
- Problems with the way the brain formed
- Changes in brain structure
- Lack of oxygen to the brain
- Brain infections
Also Check: What If My Newborn Is Constipated
What Should I Do If My Baby Has A Seizure
Its critical to seek medical attention if your baby is having a seizure. As a parent, guardian, or caretaker you can take the following steps to help an infant who is experiencing a seizure:
- If you are in the hospital, call a nurse or doctor. If you are home, call 911
- Stay with your baby until the seizure is over
- Time how long the seizure episode lasted
- Place the baby on a soft surface, protect the babies head, and have the baby turned to the side to keep airway passages clear
- Do not put anything in the babys mouth.
Infant Seizures And Their Causes And Symptoms
The human brain is like the central command and control center for the entire body. All movements of the body are generated and controlled by electrical impulse signals transmitted from the brain. Infant or neonatal seizures are a relatively common but potentially serious medical event that occurs when the brain is suddenly flooded by abnormal electrical transmissions that momentarily disrupts the functioning of the brain.
Types of Infant Seizures
Infant seizures are classified into different subtypes based on the particular area of the brain that is involved, how severe the brain interruption is, and the physical response triggered by the seizure.
The types of seizures described below other than focal seizures are considered “generalized seizures.” These infant seizures involve both sides and more than one specific area within the brain. With these types of infant seizures, there is almost always a brief loss of consciousness.
What Causes Seizures in Babies?
When infants experience any of the various types of seizures we are talking about, the most likely potential causes are trauma during birth causing damage to the baby’s brain, congenital birth defects, or infection.
Treatment of Seizures in Babies
Read Also: What Causes Hyperbilirubinemia In Newborns
Epilepsy Seizures And Seizure Disorders
Please know that the HIE Help Center is owned by a medical malpractice law firm that focuses on cases involving HIE and other birth injuries. We try to provide useful medical information to our readers, but we cannot provide treatments or medical advice. If you think your child may be having a seizure, please call 911/your countrys emergency number or your doctor.
One of the most common signs that a baby might have hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is the presence of seizures after birth. These can cause involuntary jerking motions and visible symptoms, but in some cases, the signs are very subtle. The best way to detect a baby having a seizure is using an EEG monitor to look for abnormal electrical activity in the brain. About half of newborn seizures are subtle seizures, which can be hard to see. An additional quarter of infant seizures are clonic seizures, marked by a slow rhythmic jerking or twitching of one body part. 5% of infants have tonic seizures, marked by sustained contractions, sometimes accompanied by rolling eyes and apnea. The most severe type of seizures is myoclonic, because myoclonic seizures indicate very severe brain damage. These are marked by very fast twitching or jerking, and are most often found in premature babies.
Seizures can actually worsen brain damage in cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.
How Do I Take Care Of My Child With Infantile Spasms
To help your baby with infantile spasms, follow their healthcare providers instructions for:
- Giving any medications as prescribed.
- Getting developmental assessments and therapies.
- Going to all follow-up medical visits.
Infantile spasms can lead to cognitive , neurologic and/or sensory issues. Most children with infantile spasms will have problems with their development and may need help with daily tasks throughout their lives.
Your childs healthcare team can answer questions and offer support. They also might be able to recommend a local or online support group.
You May Like: How To Know If Your Newborn Is Lactose Intolerant
How Do I Know If My Baby Has Infantile Spasms
Symptoms of Infantile Spasms
Also Check: Why Does My Newborn Breathe So Fast
Michigan Birth Injury Lawyers With A National Presence
Newborn seizures can be an indication of serious neurological damage from a number of birth-related injuries. If your baby or child suffers from seizures that began around the time of birth, contact Reiter & Walsh ABC Law Centers. Our award-winning attorneys have helped dozens of children affected by seizures. Jesse Reiter, the firms president, has been focusing on birth injury cases his entire legal career, and most of Jesses cases involve helping children who have seizure disorders, cerebral palsy, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy .
To find out if you have a case, contact our firm to speak with an experienced lawyer. We are based in Michigan, but handle cases all over the United States. Additionally, our team handles cases involving military hospitals and federally-funded clinics.
Free Case Review | Available 24/7 | No Fee Until We Win
Phone : 888-419-2229
You May Like: How To Use The Snoo With A Newborn
You May Like: What Temp Should Bath Water Be For Newborn
When Should I See My Childs Healthcare Provider About Infantile Spasms
If your child has been diagnosed with infantile spasms, theyll need to see their healthcare team regularly to make sure their treatment is working. Theyll also need EEG tests throughout their treatment to monitor their brain activity.
If you think your baby is having infantile spasms but hasnt been diagnosed yet, its important to talk to their healthcare provider as soon as possible.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Noticing that your baby isnt behaving as they normally do or isnt reaching development milestones can be concerning. You know your baby best. If you think theyre having spasms, which look like brief tensing or jerking spells, often in a series, talk to their healthcare provider as soon as possible. Try to take a video of their spasms if you can, so you can show their doctor. Early recognition of infantile spasms leads to better outcomes.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 03/09/2022.
References
Whats The Difference Between Spasms And Seizures
Infantile spasms are a type of seizure.
A seizure is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity between brain cells that causes temporary abnormalities in muscle tone or movements, behaviors, sensations and/or states of awareness. Not all seizures are alike.
Spasms are typically shorter than what most people think of when they think of seizures namely, a tonic-clonic seizure. Infantile spasms last around one to two seconds in a series whereas other types of seizures can last from 30 seconds to two minutes.
Read Also: How Many Bottles Does A Newborn Need
What Are Infantile Spasms
Infantile spasms are a rare type of childhood epilepsy affecting approximately 1 in 2,000 infants and children in the U.S. each year. The spasms are tiny seizures that can have a big impact on a babys development. Infantile spasms most often begin when a baby is 3 to 12 months old.
Infantile spasms can cause serious, permanent changes to a child’s developing brain without early diagnosis and treatment. Medication or surgery often stops the spasms, but some children are at risk for other types of seizures later in life. If children are treated quickly and successfully, they are more likely to have healthy development.
Learn What To Do If A Child Has A Seizure With These Steps For Seizure First Aid
Approximately 4-5% of all children will experience a seizure at some point during their childhood. About 1% of children are diagnosed with epilepsy, and 1 in 26 people develop this neurological condition during their lifetime.
Given these statistics, it’s vital for everyone to know what steps to take if they see a person having a seizure.
Seizures are common, and while a seizure may never happen to you or to a member of your family, it’s good for everybody to know what to do in case of a seizure.
Also Check: How Much Does It Cost To Adopt A Newborn
How Can I Help My Child During A Seizure
There are a few key steps to take if you think your infant is having a seizure. Parents Magazine recommends the following to keep your baby as safe as possible during a seizure :
- Make sure your infant is protected from experiencing injuries by moving hard objects out of the way.
- Gently roll your baby onto their side to help prevent choking.
- Avoid trying to open the babys mouth, putting anything in their mouth, holding them, or preventing movements .
For detailed advice on when to call 911, please see these recommendations from the CDC or the Epilepsy Foundation.
How We Care For Seizures
Treatments for seizures have expanded greatly in recent years and include a variety of medications, specialized diets, or, in serious cases, a variety of brain surgeries. At Boston Children’s Hospital, we care for children who have epilepsy or who have experienced seizures through the Epilepsy Center, Fetal-Neonatal Neurology Program, and many other programs that are dedicated to caring for children with disorders that may cause seizures.
Recommended Reading: How To Help Relieve Colic In Newborns
Will A Seizure Harm My Baby
Most babies recover from a seizure without any harm. Rarely, a prolonged seizure may cause problems.
Seeing your baby have a seizure can be a very distressing experience for parents/carers, but you must try to remain calm.
It is also important to seek medical assistance as soon as possible. For more information on how to manage a seizure when it occurs, see the First aid at home section below.
Seizures may occur once, a few times, or in clusters whereby seizures occur frequently, then stop and start again within a short period of time.