See It, Capture It, Get Help: Infantile Spasms And The Power Of Video

Infantile spasms (also known as West Syndrome) is a serious and uncommon epilepsy that affects infants. These seizures are brief repeated jerks which can cause lasting developmental problems if not diagnosed and treated promptly. As a parent, understanding the signs of infantile spasms can have a profound impact to your child’s development. Act today Infantile Spasms Symptoms

Recognizing the Signs: Infantile Spasms Symptoms

Infantile spasms are often subtle and easily mistaken for normal movements of a baby. But there are some specific characteristics that you should be aware of:

Rapid jerks: These spasms typically affect the neck of the infant and its upper body, which causes them to bend quickly. Also, the legs and arms could bend or stretch in a rapid manner.

In clustered episodes, these tend to be jerks that occur in groups of a number of spasms over a short period (seconds to minutes). These clusters can occur repeatedly throughout the time of the day.

Baby may seem agitated, or cry out during spasms.

The power of video: Capturing Infantile Spasms for the early diagnosis

If you think your child might be experiencing infantile spasms, time is of the essence. To ensure prompt diagnosis and effective treatment, every second counts. This is where recording a video can be lifesaving:

Visual evidence: Keeping a record of your child’s reaction to a cluster of spasms can provide doctors with an invaluable evidence-based visual proof to diagnose. Sometimes, these small events can be missed during a doctor’s appointment.

Clear video footage can help doctors to accurately identify infantile seizures and differentiate them from other types seizures or normal movements for babies.

Rapider treatment: A rapid diagnosis allows for treatment to be initiated quickly which could reduce the risk of developmental delays resulting from non-treated infantile spasms.

If you suspect infantile spasms, take immediate action.

If you suspect your baby is experiencing infantile spasms, you should be concerned.

Capture video: Take a video of the spasms by using your smartphone or camera, and capture as much detail as you can.

Make an appointment with your pediatrician immediately. It is crucial to bring your child in the presence of a doctor. Send the video to them and discuss your concerns.

Bring your child along with the video to the nearest emergency room that provides care for children if you are required to seek emergency care.

Early Intervention is the first step to safeguarding your child’s future

Infantile spasms can be a source of developmental issues that include cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. Swift diagnosis and intervention are essential to maximize the chances of your child’s recovery and reaching the normal milestones in development. There are a variety of treatment options available to address infantile spasms that range from medical interventions to specific diet regimens and in more severe instances the need for surgery might be needed. When addressing this problem with the appropriate medical treatment whenever possible parents will increase the likelihood of minimizing negative long-term effects, and assist their child on his or her journey to improved motor and cognitive functioning.

Be aware of your gut feeling if you suspect something might be going on with your baby. It’s always safer to be cautious rather than being sorry. It’s important to know the infantile spasms ‘ symptoms, make videos of them if you observe them and seek immediate medical care.