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What are infantile spasms?
Infantile spasms (IS) are seizures seen in epilepsy of infancy and early childhood
What is the main form of therapy for infantile spasms?
Antiepileptic medications are the mainstay of therapy for infants with infantile spasms
What medical conditions can result in infantile spasms?
The number of neurological diseases that can result in infantile spasms is very large, but some of the major categories include intrauterine injury and infection, disorders caused by lack of blood flow to the fetal brain
Who first described infantile spasms?
Infantile spasms were first described by the English physician W.J. West (1794-1848) in 1841
How are infantile spasms diagnosed?
The diagnosis of infantile spasms is made by a combination of the typical features, along with a characteristic electroencephalogram (EEG), which shows a very disorganized pattern termed hypsarrhythmia
How long do episodes of infantile spasms usually last?
In the United States, infantile spasms constitute 2% of childhood epilepsies, and 25% of epilepsies with onset in the first year of life. The rate of IS is 1.6-5.0 cases per 10,000 live births
What percentage of infants with infantile spasms suffer mental retardation?
Mental retardation occurs in 70-90% of persons with infantile spasms, usually involving severe to profound retardation. Other neurological deficits, such as cerebral palsy, may be seen in about 30-50% of patients.
What is the prognosis for infantile spasms?
Infantile spasms usually resolve with or without treatment in the majority of patients, generally by mid-childhood. However, other seizure types arise in 50-70% of patients
What has the author Peter M Jeavons written?
Peter M. Jeavons has written: 'Photosensitive epilepsy' -- subject(s): Biological Photosensitization, Epilepsy 'Infantile spasms' -- subject(s): Infantile Spasms
What are the three subtypes of infantile spasms?
Flexor spasms involve flexion of the neck, trunk, and extremities. Extensor spasms consist of extension of the neck, trunk, and extremities
When do infantile spasms usually end?
Infantile spasms usually cease spontaneously by age five, but are often replaced by seizures of other types. Therefore, emphasis is placed on lifelong seizure prevention rather than recovery
What characteristic patterns do many patients with infantile spasms experience?
Fifty to eighty percent of the epileptic spasms occur in clusters of two to more than 100 seizures. Patients may have dozens of clusters and several hundred spasms per day
