I was speaking with a woman from church who believed her child's condition started when he had a seizure as a little child, I think he was a few months old at the time. She believed the doctors must have done something wrong at the time for this condition to surface.
At the moment, he has been diagnosed with infantile epilepsy syndrome, and I was concerned about what she had shared, because I have heard stories of how the mistakes of certain medical experts has caused serious problems in the lives of many people, so the question is, is it possible for the mistakes of the doctors at the time to cause this condition? Let's check out the possible causes of the condition.
Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome is another re-classification that includes patients who do not meet the West syndrome criteria. This seizure disorder was first classified in the year 1841 by William West. It usually affects kids within their first years of life, and it is characterized by brief jerking spells that involve the affected baby's head, neck, abdomen, arms, or legs.
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These spasms usually last for about one to two seconds, happening one after another about every 5-10 seconds. Infantile spasms most likely happen after the baby wakes up from sleep. When a baby is affected by infantile spasms, they often experience developmental delays or developmental regression.
Infantile spasms are characterized by a sudden stiffening of usually the arms flung out, the knees pulled up, and the body bent forward. Sometimes, the head may be thrown back as the body and legs stiffen in a straight-out position. An affected infant may cry during an episode of a seizure; there are times spasms are mistaken for colic, but the cramps of colic do not occur in a series.
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What causes infantile spasms?
If you are as curious as I am, then let's keep going. The most common cause is structural change in the brain, usually due to prior injury; it could also be a result of changes in the way the baby is developing. Genetic causes are also possible, as there are a number of genes associated with spasms.
Metabolic changes can lead to changes in the way the brain functions and cause spasms. Other babies have no clear injury but have been developing normally.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) will be performed at the hospital to ascertain the presence of infantile spasms. An EEG will measure and record the brain's electrical signals. During the procedure, a small metal disk is placed on the child's scalp. The electrodes that are attached to a machine will provide the information needed about the activity of the child's brain.
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The major goal of treating infantile spasms is to control or stop the spasms from occurring, if possible. A medication like vigabatrin, which is an anti-seizure medicine, is often taken by mouth as a pill or liquid. Oral prednisolone is a synthetic form of corticosteroid hormone made by the adrenal gland. The medication works well for the treatment of infantile spasms, and can be used when there are problems with access to ACTH.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is a hormone that the pituitary gland releases and plays a major role in the way the body responds to stress. When there is a release of ACTH, it triggers the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, which is the stress hormone. When ACTH is used for the treatment of spasms, it is the synthetic (man-made) form that is used. This hormone is given in an injection form.
At the hospital, the affected child will receive their first doses, which will allow for close monitoring without any side effects. The child will continue to require the shots for about six weeks. It can be difficult to treat infantile spasms; some children will need a repeat course of treatment or even a second treatment therapy. But, all through the treatment, there will have to be a repeat of EEG tests to check the brain activity and see if the treatment is working.
If doctors are able to determine if there is a medical condition attached to spasms, then it has to be treated first. Sometimes, this may include surgery or targeted therapy for an underlying genetic or metabolic condition.
Most times, children with infantile spasms end up having intellectual disabilities later in life, although the outlook is better for children who were developing normally before the spasms started. Some children with infantile spasms usually develop autism eventually, and treating seizures on time is important to help manage the child's developmental potential. Even after the infantile spasms stop, most children usually have other types of epilepsy.
For Further Studies.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537251/
https://www.epilepsy.com/what-is-epilepsy/syndromes/infantile-spasms-west-syndrome
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22494-infantile-spasms
https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/syndromes/west-syndrome-infantile-spasms
Hi, I am Tobi, a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. Want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues? You can find my YouTube channel where you can listen and watch any episode for free. Please, do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here. Kindly do well to keep them coming.